HC Deb 28 January 2004 vol 417 cc376-7W
Mr. Arbuthnot

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action her Department has taken to stimulate UK investment in(a) Poland, (b) Lithuania and (c) Latvia. [150826]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

UK Trade and Investment does not stimulate outward investment to any market. The decision to invest is a commercial one and companies have to decide the best way of running their business. Where companies have made that decision they can ask UK Trade and Investment to provide advice and assistance to enable companies to invest successfully abroad, minimising the associated risks and maximising the benefit to companies and the UK economy.

Mr. Arbuthnot

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what action her Department has taken to stimulate UK investment in(a) the Czech Republic and (b) Bulgaria; [150828]

(2) what action her Department has taken to stimulate UK investment in (a) Hungary and (b) Estonia; [150827]

(3) what action her Department has taken to stimulate UK investment in (a) Malta, (b) Turkey and (c) Romania; [150825]

(4) what action her Department has taken to stimulate UK investment in (a) Slovakia, (b) Slovenia and (c) Cyprus. [150824]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

[holding answers 26 January 2004]UK Trade and Investment does not stimulate outward investment to any market. The decision to invest is a commercial one and companies have to decide the best way of running their business. Where companies have made that decision they can ask UK Trade and Investment to provide advice and assistance to enable companies to invest successfully abroad, minimising the associated risks and maximising the benefit to companies and the UK economy.