§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the services which are available from British embassies abroad to British companies seeking assistance with business information, for which a charge is made on the companies concerned; and if he will list the level of charges and when they were introduced. [6680]
§ Mr. HanleyThe commercial services offered by British embassies which attract a charge are in the following list.
Charging for the existing range of export services was introduced on 1 April 1989; the list reflects the current prices which came into effect on 1 October 1995.
The Department of Trade and Industry and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office provide, through overseas trade services, a wide range of assistance to British companies. The services which attract a charge and are delivered by overseas posts are listed in the following table.
Charging for the existing range of export services was introduced on 1st April, 1989; the list reflects the current prices which came into effect on 1st October 1995.
839W
Charge £ Market Information Enquiries (MIE) and Overseas Investment Enquiry Service (OIES) Market information held by post 45 Up to four hours work at a post overseas 90 Over four and up to eight hours work at a post overseas 180 Over eight and up to 12 hours work at a post overseas 270 Over 12 and up to 16 hours work at a post overseas 360 Over 16 and up to 24 hours work at a post overseas 450 1 Over 24 and up to 48 hours work at a post overseas 900 1 Over 48 hours work at a post overseas 1,350 Export Representative Service (ERS) Up to 24 hours work at a post overseas 450 Over 24 and up to 48 hours work at a post overseas 900 Over 48 hours work at a post overseas 1,350 Overseas Status Report Service (OSRS) Up to four hours work at a post overseas 90 Over four and up to eight hours work at a post overseas 180 Over eight and up to 12 hours work at a post overseas 270
Charge £ Over 12 and up to 16 hours work at a post overseas 360 Over 16 and up to 24 hours work at a post overseas 450 New Products from Britain (NPFB) Per article—first market 80 Per article—each subsequent market 40 Programme Arranging Service: in Market Help Service, Seminar Organisation Service Minimum charge—up to two hours work 70 Hourly thereafter 35 1Available in selected markets only. The charges for MIE, OIES, ERS and OSRS are based on the time taken to complete the work by diplomatic staff overseas. ERS and OSRS are not available for some markets.