asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Saudi Arabia.

I visited Saudi Arabia between 16 and 19 January for talks with Ministers and senior officials on a wide range of trade topics. We agreed that United Kingdom-Saudi relations were excellent and owed much to recent exchange visits culminating in the very successful tour last November by their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales.In 1986 United Kingdom exports to Saudi Arabia, our largest market outside western Europe and North America, were £1,507 million, an all-time record. I believe that despite reduced oil revenues Saudi Arabia continues to offer excellent opportunities for British exporters.