HC Deb 11 February 2004 vol 417 c1467W
Mr. Arbuthnot

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how his Department(a) encourages and (b) assists UK businesses to export. [153866]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

A key role of UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) (formerly British Trade International)—a joint Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department of Trade and Industry department—is to present the benefits of internationalising business as well as equipping firms with the information and capabilities to fulfil their export potential. UKTI encourages and assists business by offering a range of services to companies, details of which are contained in its current Departmental Report issued in May 2003 (Cm 5915). UKTI's Departmental Report for 2003–04 will issue in April 2004. Copies of Departmental Reports are laid in the Library of the House.