§ Mr. ClaphamTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the export promotion advice for small service businesses and the appropriate level of charges for this advice, and if he will make a statement. [33274]
§ Mr. Nelson[holding answer 10 July 1995]: The effectiveness of export promotion advice for all companies, including small service sector firms, is currently measured through data collected on companies' satisfaction with the services and information provided.
These services are currently either free or charged at a heavily subsidised price. Charging has not deterred the serious exporter as is evidenced by the continuing growth in the use of the charged services.