§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the trade missions undertaken by Ministers in her Department since 1 May 1997 and the British companies which were represented on each trade mission. [24250]
§ Mrs. Beckett[holding answer 20 January 1998]:Since 1 May 1997 my Ministerial colleagues at the DTI and 1 have undertaken the following trade missions abroad. accompanied by British companies.
107WPresident of the Board of Trade16–18 November 1997—India10–21 January 1998—China and PakistanMinister for Trade10–16 September 1997—Argentina and Chile15 October 1997—ParisMinister for Small Firms, Trade and Industry7–11 February 1998—Egypt.The hon. Member will know that such missions usually feature in Press Notices beforehand and, as such, are a matter of public record. A full list of those companies participating will be placed in the Library.The hon. Member will also know from my response to the right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) on 17 February 1998, Official Report, column 572, that Ministers undertake many other visits overseas for trade purposes.