asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his policy towards counter trade agreements between developing and developed nations.

The Government's policy is to support the further development of an open cash-based multilateral trading system and to view with concern the growth in methods of trade, including many forms of counter trade, which may hinder this. Counter trade is however, a requirement in certain markets and I hope British exporters will consider carefully the commercial opportunities that exist.