Passport to Export Scheme

HC Deb 28 October 2002 vol 391 cc536-7W

Mr Blunt

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how the Passport to Export scheme is promoted; [75861]

(2) how many businesses took up the Passport to Export scheme in (a) financial year 2000–01 and (b) financial year 2001–02; [75863]

(3) what was (a) the budget and (b) the expenditure for the Passport to Export scheme in (i) financial year 2000–01 and (ii) financial year 2001–02. [75864]

Ms Hewitt

Your passport to export success' is a national Trade Partners UK programme, delivered regionally, to develop small businesses in international trade. Promotion is done regionally. There has been no national campaign, but the press has picked up success stories.

The programme is delivered through Business Links. Passport customers receive: an assessment of their company's readiness for export; the help of a locally based expert in international trade, who works with them on a one-to-one basis to develop their export plan; subsidised training on specific skills gaps identified by the plan; a visit to an overseas market identified in the plan; and aftercare services to help them continue to grow their business using international trade.

To date 1,137 companies are taking part in the programme, 734 of which have been recruited in this financial year. Of these, 37 are located in Surrey. There is a mix of promotional activity tailored to the needs of each region's business community. In Surrey, for example, this has included a promotional event reinforced by articles in local media and publicity from partner organisations such as Chambers of Commerce.

Passport did not operate in financial year 2000–01, and there was no programme budget. In financial year 2001–02, 403 businesses joined the programme from its inception in autumn 2001.

In financial year 2001–02, expenditure was £2,099 million against a budget of £3,104.million.