§ The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Ms Patricia Hewitt)I am placing details of a £20 million British Trade International programme of support for UK company participation in supported groups at overseas trade fairs and seminars in the Library of the House. Sponsor organisations that bid for support to organise groups are being informed.
These overseas trade fair and seminar activities continue to be central to trade development work worldwide. British Trade International is conscious of sponsor organisations' need for flexibility in the way in which the funding is allocated. The operation of the programme during the 2003–04 financial year will continue to take account of this need for flexibility, within the overall budget provision, and the need for efficient administration.