asked the Minister for Trade why his Department has agreed to a request from the Government of Kenya that the Mombassa port authority be permitted to conclude a negotiated contract for the supply of harbour tugs rather than follow the normal procedure of public open tender open to all potential United Kingdom suppliers.

[pursuant to his reply, 18 October 1982, c. 3]: Because I was convinced that this was the only way to minimise the risk of losing this business to fierce foreign competition following strong representations to this effect from the Government of Kenya through our High Commission in Nairobi.