§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the relationship between the Russian Government and the Azerbaijan Government and the claims to the oil resources of the Caspian sea in so far as it relates to the activities of oil companies operating from Britain.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggWe understand that discussions on co-operation in the Caspian sea among the five littoral states, including Russia and Azerbaijan, are continuing. We welcomed the signature on 20 September of a production-sharing agreement between the Azerbaijan436W state oil company and a consortium including British-based oil companies.
§ Sir Thomas ArnoldTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the recent visit to the Caribbean by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State.
§ Mr. BaldryI visited the Caribbean from 1–7 October and chaired a meeting of the governors and chief Ministers of the Caribbean dependent territories in Montserrat. I also visited Anguilla, the British Virgin islands and the Turks and Caicos islands. I had constructive meetings in each territory with local Ministers on a wide range of issues of mutual concern.
I also met the British military short-term training team who are currently based in Puerto Rico training the Commonwealth contingent of the multinational force in preparation for duties in Haiti.