Written question asked by Brian Wilson (Labour), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 20 February 1997. It was answered by Lord Lang of Monkton (Conservative) on Thursday, 20 February 1997 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: If he will comment on his intervention with the Russian Deputy Prime Minister on behalf of Mr Alan Lewis during the period when civil proceedings in the Russian courts were in progress. - (Holding answer 13 February 1997).

Answer: Mr. Wilson: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his intervention with the Russian Deputy Prime Minister on behalf of Mr. Alan Lewis during the period when civil proceedings in the Russian courts were in progress. [15662] Mr. Lang: [holding answer 13 February 1997]: I wrote to Russian Deputy Prime Ministers Bolshakov and Kazakov on 28 June 1996 following up a meeting of the UK--Russia Steering Committee on Trade and Investment which I had co-chaired with Mr. Bolshakov the previous month. The letter addressed the uncertainties that investors faced in Russia and our shared aim to create there an attractive investment climate, and referred to Illingworth Morris as an example. I also write to Mr. Bolshakov on 4 December 1996 concerning negotiations involving other companies. Correspondence of this type is normally regarded as commercially confidential. Throughout, all correspondence and contact with the Russian Government were based wholly on the advice of officials in my Department and at the British Embassy in Moscow. Neither I nor any other Minister or official corresponded with the Chief Justice of the Russian High Arbitration court over this case.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 290 c727W;290 c727-8W; 15662
Session: 1996-97
Subjects: Civil proceedings Investment Overseas companies Russia Illingworth Morris