HL Deb 27 October 2003 vol 654 cc10-1WA
Lord Hoyle

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action they have taken to strengthen arrangements for government and business to share information on their security when operating in overseas markets. [HL4992]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) have been working together to strengthen arrangements for government and business to share information on a wide range of issues affecting their security when operating in overseas markets. The Government recognise that business needs good information sharing to ensure that they are making the right decisions on their investments in overseas markets.

Most of our embassies and high commissions already have arrangements to exchange information on security issues with locally based British business representatives and to provide information on request to business visitors. The new scheme is designed to make the service more systematic and more proactive, and will seek to ensure that all posts and FCO departments provide a consistent level of service.

A major feature of the new scheme will be the establishment of a forum in the UK for regular discussion of security-related issues. A steering group consisting of FCO, CBI and British Trade International officials and business representatives will monitor the process to ensure we are fully meeting the needs of business. Details of the new scheme have been placed on the FCO, British Trade International and CBI websites with links to each other.