asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the work of the Joint Commission which has been established between Great Britain and Saudi Arabia.

The first meeting of the Joint Commission is likely to take place in London towards the end of next month. Preparations for this meeting are being made by my Department with the help of the United Kingdom Director-General of the special Economic Co-operation Office in Riyadh who was appointed in December under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two Governments last October.