HC Deb 20 November 1967 vol 754 c903
8. Dr. Ernest A. Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many members of the Foreign Service are now employed upon commercial work in the United States of America outside Washington and New York.

Mr. Mulley

Twenty-eight, Sir.

Dr. Davies

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply and welcoming the extension of these activities deeper into the United States, will he make sure that the people sent on this job are adequately experienced in selling and marketing techniques? Therefore, would he not consider some kind of exchange or secondment arrangement with British industry?

Mr. Mulley

That suggestion goes rather further than the Question on the Order Paper. We are concerned to give the maximum commercial support to our exporters, but it is not the function of the commercial officers of the Diplomatic Missions actually to sell or to be experts in the merchandise concerned. It is for the business men themselves to provide that, but we do our best to support every effort on behalf of our exporters?

Mr. Blaker

Is not the truth that Her Majesty's Government are not sufficiently experienced in selling and marketing techniques?