§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will(a) list the countries he visited during his overseas tour in early January giving, in each case, the dates he was in the country and who he met and (b) list those accompanying him on this tour. [12241]
§ Mr. PortilloBetween 30 December 1995 and 10 January 1996, I visited the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Korea and Japan. On 13 January, I visited Kuwait. The aim of the visits was to promote our bilateral relationships with international partners. I met a number of people in each of the countries visited including the respective Ministers of Defence, some of their ministerial colleagues and senior military and civilian officials. In the Philippines I called on the President and in the Republic of Korea I called on the Prime Minister. I was accompanied throughout by officials from my private office and the Ministry of Defence. My wife accompanied me from 30 December to 10 January at the invitation of the Governments of the Philippines, the Republic of Korea and Japan.