Written question asked by Greg Hands (Conservative) on Monday, 8 May 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 10 May 2006. It was answered by Geoffrey Hoon (Labour) on Thursday, 18 May 2006 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Venezuela

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on UK-Venezuelan affairs.

Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the following comments made by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, (Dr. Howells) in the House on 8 March 2006, Official Report, columns 307-311WH:""The relationship between the United Kingdom and Venezuela is an active one. We work effectively together in several fields, including crime, counter-narcotics and energy. We have an important commercial relationship... It is the third biggest market for the UK in Latin America. ... our policy remains to seek constructive engagement with Venezuela. We have much to gain from working together"."

Secondary information