§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the total expenditure upon the outward missions scheme in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and how much of this was spent on firms based in the north-west of England in each of those years.
§ Mr. ChannonThe total expenditure upon the outward mission scheme in each of the last five years for which figures are available is as follows:
£ 1979–80 959,000 1980–81 838,000 1981–82 1,051,000 1982–83 1,048,000 1983–84 1,536,000 With the exception of 1979–80, for which records are not readily available, the amount spent on firms based in the north-west of England was as follows: 507W
£ 1980–81 84,961 1981–82 99,080 1982–83 91,535 1983–84 123,020
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list all those firms based in the north-west of England which have received assistance under the outward missions scheme in the last year for which details are available.
§ Mr. ChannonIn 1984 some 226 firms based in the north-west of England participated in outward missions with assistance from the British Overseas Trade Board, 62 of them more than once. I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible with a list of the firms.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those countries which are not covered by the outward missions scheme; and what are the reasons for each exception.
§ Mr. ChannonI shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.