HL Deb 06 June 1973 vol 343 cc178-80WA
LORD MERRIVALE

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Following the Earl of Limerick's statement to the House on 28th November, 1972, that the purpose of his visit to Greece was "to discuss with Greek Ministers matters of mutual interest in the commercial and economic field"; what assistance or facilities have since been made available to British businessmen—

  1. (a) to explore the good opportunities for an expansion of Anglo-Greek trade in the private sector;
  2. (b) to take advantage of the substantial opportunities in the public sector; and
  3. (c) to identify investment opportunities, particularly in joint ventures, i.e. in export-orientated or import-substituting industries.

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY (THE EARL OF LIMERICK)

The full range of Government services to exporters under the general oversight of the British Overseas Trade Board, and the services of the Commercial Department in the British Embassy in Athens, are already available to British exporters to Greece. In particular, under existing procedures export opportunities in the Greek private and public sector are reported by the Embassy and disseminated to interested UK firms by the Department's Export Intelligence Service. Manufacturing investment opportunities are also reported in the Export Intelligence Service. Manufacturing investment opportunities are also reported in the Export Intelligence Service as soon as they become known to the Embassy.

Another important aspect of assistance to exporters is the provision of official aid for business missions. Financial assistance to outward selling and inward buying missions from Greece is comparable with that for other countries including Yugoslavia and Turkey and more generous than for the rest of Western Europe. The Department has very recently supported a successful mission to Greece in the light engineering field organised by the Birmingham and London Chambers of Commerce. An inward mission of senior officials of the Hellenic Post Office has also recently visited the UK

House adjourned at twenty-five minutes past six o'clock.