§ 27. Mr. Bill O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent measures his Department is taking to support British companies in respect of export promotion; and if he will make a statement. [82389]
§ Mr. ByersMy right hon Friend the Foreign Secretary announced on 12 March 1999,Official Report, columns 399 –400, the Government's response to the Cabinet Secretary's Review of Export Promotion, the core of which is that all trade promotion and development activities of the DTI and FCO should be unified in a new joint operation, British Trade International, with a single Chief Executive. The organisation will give Britain a sharper edge in export markets. Once implemented, the provisions of the Review will allow us to provide a more coherent service which is readily accessible to UK businesses wherever they are located. Copies of the report have been placed in the libraries of the House.