HC Deb 18 February 1994 vol 237 cc1051-2W
Mr. Tom Clarke

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all the visits that have been made by Defence Ministers to(a) Ecuador, (b) India, (c) Indonesia, (d) Jordan, (e) Malaysia, (f) Nigeria, (g) Oman, (h) Pakistan and (i) Thailand since June 1987; and what was the purpose of each visit.

Mr. Aitken

Central records of all official visits by Ministers are not kept. Records available show the following visits:

Ecuador

(Defence Procurement)–1992

India

  • Secretary of State–1988
  • Under-Secretary of State–1993

Indonesia

  • Secretary of State–1989, 1991, 1993
  • Under-Secretary of State (Armed Forces)—1991
  • Under-Secretary of State (Defence Procurement)—1987, 1988, 1991

Jordan

Secretary of State—1988

Malaysia

  • Secretary of State—1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993
  • Minister (Armed Forces)—1988, 1990 (twice)
  • Minister (Defence Procurement)—1991
  • Under-Secretary of State–1992, 1993
  • Under-Secretary of State (Armed Forces)—1991
  • Under-Secretary of State (Defence Procurement)—1988, 1989, 1991

Nigeria

None

Oman

  • Secretary of State–1987, 1989 (twice), 1990, 1992, 1994
  • Minister (Armed Forces)—1987, 1990
  • Minister (Defence Procurement)—1988, 1991, 1992, 1993

Pakistan

  • Minister (Defence Procurement)—1988

Thailand

  • Under-Secretary of State (Defence Procurement)—1992

Ministerial visits are generally made to maintain and improve our defence relations with the host country. In each case a broad range of issues was discussed.