HC Deb 08 February 1994 vol 237 cc223-4W
Mr. Tim Clarke

To ask the President of the Board of Trade which countries visited by Trade and Industry Ministers since June 1987 have subsequently placed orders for arms.

Mr. Needham

Given the strength and competitiveness of the United Kingdom defence industry I would expect orders to have been placed by most countries visited; exports would not be licensed to certain countries where it is thought inappropriate or where there are internationally agreed embargoes. It would not be possible to provide a detailed answer except at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Tom Clarke

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list all the overseas visits that have been made by Trade and Industry Ministers since June 1987; and what was the purpose of each visit.

Mr. Needham

Information on all overseas visits by all Trade and Industry Ministers for any purpose since June 1987 could only be made available at disproportionate cost. The following Trade and Industry Ministers have made trade promotion visits overseas to date in the financial year 1993–94.

The President of the Board

  • Mexico/Argentina—June 1993
  • Japan/Australia—January 1993

The Minister for Trade

  • Ireland—July 1993
  • Czech Republic—September 1993
  • Qatar/UAE—April 1993
  • Turkey—July 1993
  • Hong Kong/Korea—April 1993
  • Thailand/Indonesia/Singapore—June 1993
  • Japan/Malaysia—September 1993
  • China/Taiwan/Hong Kong—October 1993
  • Singapore/Malaysia/Indonesia—November-December 1993
  • India—November 1993

The Minister for Energy

  • Kazakhstan—September-October 1993
  • Thailand/Malaysia/Indonesia—September 1993

The former Minister, the hon. Member for Gainsborough and Horncastle (Mr. Leigh)

  • Slovenia—March 1993
  • Ghana—April 1993

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Technology

  • Zimbabwe/Tanzania—October 1993
  • Brazil—September 1993

Baroness Denton

Singapore—September 1993

Lord Strathclyde

China—October 1993

Back to