§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the net total direct expenditure in terms of assistance to exporters made by the Overseas Trade Board in the latest year for which figures are available; what was the net cost of the provision of overseas trade services in that year; and what percentage the latter figure represents of the former.
§ Mr. Needham[holding answer 2 March 1993]: The total cost of the overseas trade services export promotion programme in 1991–92 was £173.4 millions gross, £127.3 millions of which was the cost (including overheads) of the staff involved (including FCO commercial staff overseas and export sections of Territorial Departments).
Direct expenditure on export promotion schemes and services was £46.1 millions gross (£27.9 millions net of receipts). Details are given in the annual report of the British Overseas Trade Board.