§ Mr. Whitakerasked the President of the Board of Trade if he has studied the work being done by the Institute of Marketing for the smaller manufacturer under their Export Marketing Partnerships Scheme, details of which are in his possession; and if he will seek to give it Government support.
§ Mr. JayYes. I believe this scheme to be a useful method of harnessing the export potential of smaller firms who have hitherto not been fully engaged in the export effort. Its value is that, through the intermediary of independent and impartial consultants, the smaller manufacturer is enabled to conclude a realistic profit-sharing partnership with an experienced exporter, to the benefit of both parties and of the country's export effort. The Institute of Marketing have told me that they will continue to operate the scheme; but the resources they can devote to it are necessarily limited and they cannot contemplate expansion to meet the growing demand. I have therefore decided to make a grant to the Institute based on a three-year period of assistance and subject to a maximum of £20,000 in any one year. I shall be pre-248W senting a Supplementary Estimate in due course, but in the meantime any necessary advances will be made from the Civil Contingencies Fund.