15. Mr. Michael Showasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to encourage the expansion of overseas market research and sales staff in British industry.
§ Mr. JayThe Government are actively encouraging the expansion of British industries' overseas sales activities, including collective market research. The B.N.E.C. Collective Overseas Market Research Scheme provides for the Government to contribute up to one half of the basic overseas cost.
Mr. ShawBut if the Government are so anxious, surely they should encourage private industry to look after these matters for itself, and surely the best way of doing that is for the President of the Board of Trade to encourage his right hon. Friend to alter the categories of these staff for S.E.T. purposes so that there is a rebate rather than a repayment?
§ Mr. JayWe have been asked to do more than simply encourage industry to do this for itself, and after a good deal of discussion we have introduced this scheme which applies through the British National Export Council. I think that both are necessary.