HC Deb 19 July 1995 vol 263 cc1547-8W
Mr. Spring

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has completed his review of the Simpler Trade Procedures Board; and if he will make a statement. [36546]

Mr. Nelson

The purpose of the review, begun in May 1994, was to decide how SITPRO's work should be taken forward. The review, which has taken into account the report of a departmental review team and extensive representations by the SITPRO board, senior staff and other interested parties, is now complete. I am grateful to all those who contributed.

I am pleased to acknowledge the value of the work undertaken by SITPRO on trade facilitation and in stimulating the application of best practice, including electronic data interchange. A wide range of business representatives has made an extensive contribution over the years to the work of the board and its committees.

I have decided that the core trade facilitation function should continue, and be conducted at arm's length from the Department, with input from business. My Department, in conjunction with the chairman and the board, will be re-defining SITPRO's role in the light of the Government's wider trade and other policies. The focus will be on international trade procedures and associated information flows.

I recognise that SITPRO, in co-operation with other bodies, has made a pioneering contribution to the development of EDI standards. However, I believe that it is now appropriate to consolidate this work with other IT standards work led by the private sector. Although SITPRO will cease to play a leading role, it will provide input on the implications for international trade procedures. The Department is therefore negotiating with relevant bodies to ensure that the future focus for EDI standards work will be the relevant EDI standards BSI committee through the United Kingdom Confederation for Electronic Data Interchange Standards, UKCEDIS. To provide a stronger UK voice, with wider industry support, in the UN/EDIFACT process, the Department is negotiating to transfer SITPRO's EDI standards team to the private sector, where its expertise will continue to provide a resource for the lead standards body and the EDI community. The Department will fund this support activity on a tapering basis, to allow the private sector time to put alternative funding in place.

I share the board's view that SITPRO's software business could now make a greater contribution by being in the private sector. Consequently, preparations are being made to sell the business.

I believe that this programme of changes represents a way forward which will meet the wider governmental policies and key international trade facilitation needs.