§ 22. Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what efforts his Department is making to promote British exports to the far east; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoodladAll FCO posts in the far east have export promotion as a top priority. They seek out export opportunities, advise British companies on the business to be won in their markets, lobby on their behalf for major contracts and against discrimination, organise visits by ministers and trade missions with the specific object of winning business amongst other tasks. I am happy to say that our exports to China are 90 per cent. up this year, to the Philipines 59 per cent., to Thailand 43 per cent., to South Korea 25 per cent., to Malaysia 51 per cent., to Hong Kong 33 per cent., to Singapore 25 per cent. and to Taiwan 20 per cent.