§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what trade missions are planned for the next 12 months by(a) the Minister for Trade, (b) members of the royal family, (c) the chairman of the British Overseas Trade Board and (d) other departmental Ministers. [9454]
§ Mrs. Beckett[holding answer 18 July 1997]: The following trade missions are planned at present. Details of visit programmes and accompanying business delegations have yet to be finalised.
- (a) Lord Clinton-Davis—Minister for Trade
- September 1997: Chile/Argentina
- September 1997: Korea/Japan
- October 1997: Qatar and possibly Saudi Arabia/Yemen
- December 1997: Poland/Czech Republic/Hungary
- (b) Members of the Royal Family
The royal family's extensive programme of overseas visits plays an important part in the promotion of British commercial as well as other interests. The following visits specifically for trade promotions are planned during the next 12 months.
- HRH The Duke of Kent—Vice Chairman of the British Overseas Trade Board
- October 1997: Korea
- April 1998: India
- September 1998: Colombia/Peru/Bolivia
- HRH The Duke of Gloucester
- September 1997: Yemen (with British Consultants Bureau)
- (c) Sir Martin Laing—Chairman of the British Overseas Trade Board
- September 1997: Philippines
- October 1997: Peru
- November 1997: Egypt
- (d) Other Departmental Ministers
- Margaret Beckett—President of the Board of Trade
- November: 1997: Australia/India
- January 1998: China/Pakistan
- John Battle—Minister for Science, Energy and Industry
- November 1997: Angola/Botswana (provisional)
- Barbara Roche—Under-Secretary of State for Small Firms, Trade and Industry
- April 1998: Mauritius