§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Trade what consultations his Department has had with British industry on export promotion in all major markets; and what are the prospects for expansion in the export market.
§ Mr. MeacherMy Department has a continuing dialogue with industry on export promotion both with individual exporters and trade associations. Part of this dialogue is through the British Overseas Trade Board's Product Selection Exercise, whose principal purpose is to establish in which of our major overseas markets sectors of industry would welcome the board's export promotional support. In 1975 officials held discussions with some 75 trade associations and some62W 1,200 firms to establish on which products and in which markets the board's support might be concentrated.
Prospects in export markets are good. Current forecasts suggest the volume of world trade in manufactures may be as much as 15 per cent greater in 1967 than it was in 1975, and may continue to grow at this rate well into 1977.