§ Mr. Brocklebank-Fowlerasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will institute studies of overseas markets in order to determine those in which British goods and services have a competitive advantage.
§ Mr. Meacher, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 17th February 1978; Vol. 944, c. 409], gave the following information:
In the early 1970s the Department analysed information from overseas posts, domestic trade associations and companies, and identified a number of products and markets in which there appeared to be good prospects. This exercise has been updated and, together with the ongoing discussions NEDP and sector working parties, is a useful tool for determining the allocation of the Govermnent's export promotion efforts. In addition, the Department is carrying out a specific 804W health-care, jewellery and giftware, motor vehicle, scientific instruments and ship and boat building industries. Comments were invited from industrial strategy sector working parties. Unsolicited comments were received from a number of other bodies and individual firms. Finally the scheme was laid before the British Overseas Trade Advisory Council, a body with wide and representative membership specially created to advise on such topics.