§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to increase the amount of assistance which is available from his Department to enable British manufacturers to take part in overseas trade fairs.
§ Mr. ChannonProposals for expenditure on export promotion services over the next few years, including support for groups at overseas trade fairs, are set out in a consultation document issued by the British Overseas Trade Board on 3 December 1984 to organisations representing industry and commerce. The document is available in the library of the House.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much assistance was given to British manufacturers (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in the north-west to enable them to take part in overseas trade fairs in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
§ Mr. ChannonRelevant details are not readily available to distinguish between the north-west and other areas, nor are they available to differentiate between manufacturers and other exporters. The overall figures for506W assistance given by the British Overseas Trade Board to groups of British exporters at overseas exhibitions for the last five financial years are as follows:
Number of exhibitions at which support was given Number of exhibitors supported Net cost to BOTB (£ thousand) 1979–80 360 8,223 12,100 1980–81 333 7,178 9,023 1981–82 348 7,366 11,122 1982–83 360 7,318 11,273 1983–84 366 7,509 10,890
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list all those businesses based in the north-west which have recently received assistance from his Department to enable them to take part in overseas trade fairs.
§ Mr. ChannonBOTB support at overseas trade fairs was provided to 430 exhibitors from the north-west during 1984. That figure includes support at more than one exhibition for some companies. I will send a list of the exhibitors to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance is available from his Department to enable British manufacturers to take part in overseas trade fairs.
§ Mr. ChannonFor events it supports the British Overseas Trade Board will arrange and pay for the provision of space and appropriate stands at an overseas exhibition. A proportion of the costs will be charged to exhibitors in the BOTB group, normally with lower rates for newcomers to the event and for firms exhibiting there for the second time. In addition, assistance towards travel costs for up to two representatives of each company in the groups is at present available at exhibitions outside most of Western Europe. Details are given in the BOTB consultation document dated 3 December 1984.
The whole range of other services provided by the BOTB and diplomatic commercial staff overseas is also available.