§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his policies of support and encouragement for the exporting of United Kingdom manufactures.
§ Mr. SainsburyMy Department and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office provide, through oveseas trade services, a wide range of help, advice and support to exporters at each stage of the export process, from researching opportunities through to contacting and visiting markets. These services are described in "Export 161W Inititive—a pocket guide" a copy of which is in the Library. Some 2,000 staff in the two Departments are engaged, worldwide, in helping exporters.
The services we offer are available to those exporting both goods and services. In particular, we aim to help small and inexperienced exporters who, without Government encouragement, might never consider selling overseas; experienced exporters who are new to a particular market; and those pursuing project business, where Government influence is often not only helpful but vital when contracts are to be clinched.
Together with the FCO we have instituted regular independent monitoring of our services and the way in which they are delivered. The feedback received from industry shows overall satisfaction rates among our business customers exceeding 70 per cent. for nearly all services, and 90 per cent. of those monitored say they would use our services again.
It is encouraging to note the steady rise in the level of exports of manufactured goods in recent months. The efforts of those concerned are to be applauded.