HL Deb 21 July 1971 vol 322 c967
THE EARL OF LAUDERDALE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are satisfied with the speed, accuracy and volume of commercial intelligence fed back by commercial departments of British diplomatic and consular missions overseas.]

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, commercial departments of our diplomatic posts abroad are very much alive to the importance which British exporters attach to getting the earliest hints of future business. Where the nature of the commercial intelligence justifies it, the information is passed by telegram or telex; about 50 per cent. of all intelligence comes by this means. Commercial departments take the greatest pains over accuracy. As to volume, the output of intelligence has grown steadily and we are confident of achieving a continuing increase.

THE EARL OF LAUDERDALE

My Lords, in thanking the noble Earl for his reply, may I say first of all that everyone is grateful for the work done by the commercial attachés? Is the noble Earl aware that the crux of the matter is getting the first hint of a project, and that there are firms in this country subscribing to the Board of Trade's information service who find that by an air mail subscription to the local Press they get the same information more quickly when it is already public knowledge?

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, hints of future business, which commercial departments call"market pointers ", are one of the things which our overseas departments are concerned about. Obviously, it is impossible for departments of our overseas Embassies and High Commissions to be responsible, in toto, for all forms of information which may come to light in the countries in which they are situated. This information is necessarily a supplement to the British exporters' information.