§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the steps his Department has taken since June, 1970, to cut back the services and finances which were assisting British firms to export.
§ Mr. NobleSince June, 1970, the Government have been concerned with the need to stabilise expenditure on export promotion assistance to British firms and to make it more cost effective. We have accordingly established limits to the expenditure on trade promotion in the current financial year. For missions the financial limit this year is £650,000, and as from 1st June assistance for outward missions will be limited to 50 per cent. of the air fare in general. We have also rationalised the Export Marketing Research and Group Export Representation Schemes and have limited assistance under them to 33⅓ per cent. of the cost of approved market research.