§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact of his remarks concerning the arrest of Senator Pinochet on behalf of the Spanish legal authorities on trade between Chile and the United Kingdom. [56571]
§ Mr. Mandelson[holding answer 28 October 1998]: The United Kingdom has well established trade links with Chile and I expect those to continue. We are one of Chile's main export markets. Although there has been a modest downturn in bilateral trade during the year to August, Chile still enjoys a substantial balance of trade. UK companies remain amongst the biggest group of foreign investors in Chile.
§ Mr. WilshireTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those Ministers with whom he has discussed the arrest of Senator Pinochet and the dates on which the discussions took place. [57430]
§ Mr. MandelsonIt is the normal convention under this and previous Governments that discussions which take place between Ministers are not routinely disclosed. On this occasion, however, it has been made public that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made it clear to the Cabinet on 22 October that there should be no discussion at Cabinet given that my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary might in due course have to address the issue in a quasi-judicial role.