§ Lord Campbell of Allowayasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have decided to set up a "next steps" agency to administer their services to exporters.
§ The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Lord Young of Graffham)I do not now plan to set up a "next steps" agency to administer the Government's export services. I have concluded that the present organisation, and in particular the contribution to our export promotion work which is made by a large number of senior businessmen through their membership of the British Overseas Trade Board and Area Groups, serves exporters well. I am however continuing to examine ways in which our export services can be reorganised to reflect exporters' needs better, including increasing the role played by private sector organisations.