§ Mr. Michael Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) how many paying subscribers have used the British Overseas Trade Board export intelligence service during the years 1974, 1975 and 1976 to the latest available date;
(2) how many outward trade missions were conducted by the British Overseas Trade Board during the years 1974, 1975 and 1976 to the latest available date;
329W(3) how many overseas exhibitions were supported by the British Overseas Trade Board during the years 1974, 1975 and 1976 to the latest available date;
(4) how many inquiries and requests for assistance the British Overseas Trade Board received in 1974, 1975 and 1976 to the latest available date;
(5) how many overseas visitors and buyers of capital and consumer goods visited Great Britain under the British Overseas Trade Board's Inward Mission Scheme during the years 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976 to the latest available date;
(6) how many projects under the Export Marketing Research Scheme have been approved; and what was the expenditure involved, respectively, for the years 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76 and 1976–77 to the latest available date.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisThe figures requested are as follows:
Paying Subscribers to the Export Intelligence Service 30th September 1974 … … … 5,713 30th September 1975 … … … 6,826 30th September 1976 … … … 7,533 Outward Trade Missions 1974 … … … 179 1975 … … … 222 1976 (Estimate) … … … 250 Overseas Exhibitions Supported 1974 … … … 312 1975 … … … 335 1976 (Estimate) … … … 344 Note: At some exhibitions more than one group of firms may be supported.
Inward Missions on Capital and Consumer Goods Capital Goods Consumer Goods Total 1973 386 184 570 1974 300 97 397 1975 348 204 552 1976 (January September). 261 131 392
Export Marketing Research Projects Approved Expenditure Approved £ 1973–74 196 290,000 1974–75 160 184,000 1975–76 249 302,000 1976–77 (April-September). 189 226,000 Inquiries and Requests for Assistance
There is a large volume of inquiries and requests for assistance by 'phone, letter and by personal visit. Statistics of these are not kept because the heavy staff costs involved would be totally disproportionate to the value of such figures.
330W
§ Mr. Michael Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a further statement of his policy on the reduction of the direct expenditure of the BOTB by about £700,000 over the next 18 months, in the light of the BOTB's aim of assisting exporters so that British industry may be better placed to take full advantage of the expected upturn in world trade when it comes.