HL Deb 04 July 1986 vol 477 cc1151-3
Lord Hatch of Lusby

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

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have studied the London Chamber of Commerce survey on British Government export promotion services and aid programmes to Africa, and what action they are to take on its findings.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Lucas of Chilworth)

My Lords, this survey has been studied by the departments concerned. It was based on a small sample of respondents and cannot therefore be seen as being representative of the views of British industry as a whole. But we take seriously the comments of those who did reply. Some of the problems highlighted in the survey were familiar ones and all are being followed up on a continuing basis.

Lord Hatch of Lusby

My Lords, I acknowledge that this is not a survey which professes to describe industry as a whole. However, as the Minister says, it is an important survey from an important body—the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Is the noble Lord aware that the survey particularly points out dissatisfaction with the level and quality of government support to exporters both as regards diplomatic missions in Africa and resources of aid and funding packages? What do the Government intend to do rather than just observe the results of this survey?

Lord Lucas of Chilworth

My Lords, regarding the first part of the noble Lord's supplementary question, we have over 50 diplomatic and senior commercial officers serving throughout tropical Africa. When these posts are inspected the level of commercial activity is measured and changes are made to meet the criteria. As regards support, the British Overseas Trade Board has a tropical Africa advisory group and that is comprised of businessmen active in the markets concerned. They provide the BOTB with advice on strategy for overseas trade, and the BOTB directs and develops the export promotion services on behalf of the department alongside that advice.

Lord Geddes

My Lords, my noble friend used the word "small" in his original reply. How small is "small"?

Lord Lucas of Chilworth

My Lords, I understand that 1,300 copies of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry's questionnaire were sent out. There were 53 responses, of which only 46 were usable.

Lord Bruce of Donington

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the fact that the survey, in its ultimate result, only contained a sample is no reason at all for the Government to assume that the sample is unrepresentative? Is he further aware that when his noble friend Lord Young of Graffham sought to survey small businesses the survey covered only 200 firms, and that he nevertheless acted upon it? Will the noble Lord take another look at this survey? The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry has a very significant reputation in its field, and its findings on the basis of the survey ought to be taken seriously into account. Will the noble Lord give the House an assurance that he will take another very careful look at this survey?

Lord Lucas of Chilworth

I am very well aware of the importance of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and I believe that in my original Answer I said that we were following up those points which have been made to us. This week my honourable friend the Minister for Trade discussed the content of the survey with the Chamber. As I said, we are following up the points made.

Lord Vernon

My Lords, so far as concerns aid programmes, is the noble Lord aware that the population of Africa is on average doubling every 24 years? Is he further aware that only 1 per cent. of the aid given by Her Majesty's Government goes to family planning, and 99 per cent. to other purposes? Does not the noble Lord agree that these proportions are inappropriate?

Lord Lucas of Chilworth

My Lords, the noble Lord has introduced a subject very much wider than that covered by the original Question. We are talking about promotion services and trade aid to tropical Africa. As I have said, we continually review the amounts of money that we spend in this area. The Government attempt to have a balanced programme for public expenditure, and trade support in its variety of forms is contained within our continuing survey of this kind of expenditure.

Lord Broxbourne

My Lords, in his helpful definition, in answer to my noble friend, the Minister used the term "usable". Will he further assist the House by defining this term, and would it be correct to assume that the other category is "disposable"?

Lord Lucas of Chilworth

My Lords, I understand that of the 53 responses, seven were, so to speak, spoiled papers and contained no information that could usefully be used by the statisticians.

Lord Hatch of Lusby

My Lords, while we agree that this is not necessarily representative of industry as a whole in this country, does the noble Lord realise that the findings of this report are precisely the findings of your Lordships' Select Committee on Overseas Trade, as noted both in its report and in the evidence provided to that committee by industrialists and manufacturers? Will the noble Lord address himself to the specific criticism of the chamber which states that recent cut-backs in staffing levels in the commercial sections of overseas posts have contributed to this level of criticism? When the noble Lord the Minister talks about "review", is he not using that term as a euphemism for "cuts", and is this not a criticism of the whole of the Government's policy in cutting back overseas commercial posts?

Lord Lucas of Chilworth

My Lords, staff resources are limited and they have to be deployed to the best effect. In spite of cuts, tropical Africa is still better served in its ratio of commercial manpower to exports than any other area in the world except Latin America and the Caribbean. Generous tribute was paid to the overseas commercial posts, and those who serve in them, in written evidence, including evidence from the London Chamber to the Foreign Affairs Committee in another place on the 1984–85 Foreign Office Vote and also in your Lordships' Select Committee report on the decline in trade of manufactured goods. Both paid tribute to the work being done and the success of our commercial officers abroad.

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