§ Mr. Brocklebank-Fowlerasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will take action to stimulate a greater interest by British firms in commercial opportunities arising out of European development fund procurement.
§ Mr. Parkinson[pursuant to his reply, 6 June 1980, c. 835]: Action is already in hand. I and other Ministers take every appropriate opportunity to impress on business men the opportunities which are available. Articles have appeared in "British Business ". Companies which subscribe to the Export Intelligence Service are sent outline programmes for each country receiving EDF finance as soon as they become available ; the EIS also carries specific opportunities and calls for tenders as they arise. More information is available at all times from the projects section at export house and from regional offices. Meanwhile, the Tropical Africa Advisory Group and the Overseas Projects Board are both working with my Department to see what more might be done within their respective spheres of interest.