§ Mrs. McLaughlinasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to encourage greater British participation in overseas trade fairs.
§ Mr. MaudlingAs my right hon. Friend the Minister of State told the House during the debate on export trade on 22nd February, 1961, the Board of Trade are proposing to provide greater assistance to British firms wishing to take part in specialised fairs overseas and the Department will assume greater responsibilities for national pavilions in those fairs where exhibitions from a particular country are grouped together in a single national pavilion. We shall also continue to assist all-British fairs abroad148W and to give greater help to the organisers of British Weeks and similar events. In the current year our total expenditure on fairs of all kinds and on British Weeks is expected to be about £330,000. Proposals will shortly be laid before Parliament seeking to increase the provision in 196162 by £200,000, making a total of £530,000.