HC Deb 09 February 2004 vol 417 cc1215-6W
Mr. Simon Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) on what date the official seconded by the British Joint Steering Committee on the Industrial Participation Agreements in South Africa was seconded to the South African Department of Trade and Industry; and on what date the secondment ends; [151391]

(2) from what Department the official seconded by the British Joint Steering Committee on the Industrial Participation Agreements in South Africa came to the South African Department of Trade and Industry. [151392]

Mr. Ingram

I have been asked to reply.

In accordance with an undertaking given by the Prime Minister to President Mbeki, the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence seconded an official to the South African Department of Trade and Industry in March 2000 in the role of Offset Adviser. The secondment ended in April 2002. Since that time the UK MOD has supported a part-time Offset Adviser with commercial experience, in accordance with the wishes of the South African Department of Trade and Industry.

Mr. Simon Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if she will place a copy of the reports made by the official seconded by the British Joint Steering Committee on the Industrial Participation Agreements in South Africa in the Library; [151393]

(2) how many reports on the progress of the South African industrial participation agreements have been received by the Joint Steering Committee on the Industrial Participation Agreements in South Africa since January 2000. [151394]

Mr. Ingram

I have been asked to reply

The Joint Industrial Participation Monitoring Committee has received reports from the South African Department of Trade and Industry, from Armscor and from the Industrial Participation obligors at each of its meetings. These reports have covered both the National Industrial Participation and Defence Industrial Participation programmes. No formal reports were made by the official.

Mr. Simon Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what dates the Joint Steering Committee on the Industrial Participation Agreements in South Africa has met since January 2000. [151395]

Mr. Ingram

I have been asked to reply.

The Joint Industrial Participation Monitoring Committee has met on the following dates since January 2000:

  • 16 November 2000
  • 10 May 2001
  • 8 November 2001
  • 7 May 2002
  • 26 November 2002
  • 11 March 2003
  • 1 October 2003