HC Deb 10 March 1976 vol 907 cc240-3W
Mr. Brocklebank-Fowler

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) how many members of the staff in that section of his Department concerned with general export, commercial and trade policy are of the rank of Under-Secretary or above;

(2) how many members of the staff in that section of his Department concerned with export development and planning in relation to special countries are of the rank of Under-Secretary or above;

(3) if he will publish in the Official Report a list of the divisions within that section of his Department concerned with general export, commercial and trade policy and a brief description of the function of each;

(4) if he will publish in the Official Report a list of the divisions within that section of his Department concerned with export, development and planning in relation to special countries and a brief description of the function of each;

(5) if he will publish in the Official Report a chart showing the names, ranks, qualifications, job specifications and salaries of the staff between the rank of Deputy Secretary and Under-Secretary, employed in that section of his Department concerned with general export, commercial and trade policy;

(6) if he will publish in the Official Report a chart showing the names, ranks, qualifications, job specifications and salaries of the staff between the rank of Deputy Secretary and Under-Secretary, employed in that section of his Department concerned with export, development and planning in relation to special countries;

(7) If he will list in the Official Report the names of staff of the rank of Under-Secretary or above in that section of his Department dealing with general export, commercial and trade policy, who have recognised qualifications in market research, marketing, advertising or public relations;

(8) If he will list in the Official Report the names of staff of the rank of Under-Secretary or above in that section of his Department dealing with export, development and planning in relation to special countries, who have recognised qualifications in market research, marketing, advertising or public relations;

(9) how many staff in that section of his Department dealing with general export, commercial and trade policy, of the rank of Under-Secretary or above, have more than five years' marketing and selling experience with a private commercial organisation;

(10) how many staff in that section of his Department dealing with export, development and planning in relation lo special countries, of the rank of Under-Secretary or above, have more than five years' marketing and selling experience with a private commercial organisation;

(11) if he will publish a list of those countries in which his Department has established a liaison office.

Mr. Deakins

The edition ofTrade and Industry published on 21st November 1975, copies of which are available in the Library, contains a guide setting out the responsibilties of my Department and listing by name all staff at Under-Secretary level and above. I am sending the hon. Member an updated version of this guide.

The British Overseas Trade Board and the British Overseas Trade Advisory Council, whose memberships include prominent business men, are responsible to me for work on the promotion and development of overseas trade. The Departments and Divisions primarily concerned are the Export Credits Guarantee Department, four Commercial Relations and Exports Divisions, Export Development, Export Services and Promotions, and General Divisions, and the Overseas Projects Group.

All Under-Secretaries and above in these Departments and Divisions have responsibilties which involve them in export policy, or export development in particular countries. Some have had firsthand experience of assisting exporters through service in British diplomatic posts overseas and all are experienced in dealing with the problems of commerce and industry, though none has the specialist qualifications referred to by the hon. Member or has direct commercial experience. Both of my Industrial Advisers have experience of marketing and selling in private organisations.

The pay of a Deputy Secretary is £14,000 a year and that of an Under-Secretary £12,000 a year.

The Department of Trade's interests in export promotion and development are represented overseas by the Diplomatic Service to which a number of the staff of the Department are seconded, in particular to fill commercial posts.

To facilitate the handling of projects under the Memorandum of Understanding on economic co-operation recently signed with Saudi Arabia, my Department has opened an Economic Development Office in Riyadh.