§ Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for Trade why the British Overseas Trade Board is prepared only to provide support for a second representative from companies in overseas delegations sponsored by his Department, provided that that person is a shop floor trade unionist; and what differential is made between delegations covering industries which are heavily unionised and those which are not.
§ Mr. MeacherUnder the BOTB's outward mission scheme, members of approved trade missions, normally one per company, receive a grant towards travel and accommodation costs which varies from market to market. Consistent with its wider aim of encouraging closer association between management and shop-floor in export activity, the Board offers a firm participating in a mission a second grant towards the cost of including a shop-floor representative where, in the judgment of the firm and with the approval of the chamber of commerce or trade association organising the mission, this would be advantageous from the standpoint of export promotion. The facility is not dependent on the operation of particular trade union arrangements within a firm, and the choice of shop floor representative would be a matter for the management of the firm in consultation with the work force.