HC Deb 11 February 1986 vol 91 cc420-1W
Dr. McDonald

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many inquiries there were from local exporters concerning export credits insurance in each of the Export Credits Guarantee Department regional offices in 1984 and 1985.

Mr. Alan Clark

[pursuant to his reply, 10 February 1986]: The following table provides details of the number of credit limit inquiries received by each regional office of the Export Credits Guarantee Department:

Applications
Regional office January 1984 to December 1984 January 1985 to December 1985
1. Belfast 1,825 2,004
2. Birmingham 22,174 22,195
3. Bristol 12,748 11,969
4. Cambridge 19,887 19,026
5. City 21,659 19,792
6. Croydon 20,519 19,950
7. Glasgow 8,591 8,886
8. Leeds 23,543 24,885
9. Manchester 17,614 18,318
TOTAL 148,470 147,025

Dr. McDonald

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the Official Report the number of staff employed in the regional office network of the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

Mr. Alan Clark

[pursuant to his reply, 10 February 1986]: The regional office network of the Export Credits Guarantee Department has a complement of 392 including 18 located in the Cardiff headquarters engaged in regional work.

Dr. McDonald

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the implications for the Export Credits Guarantee Department's regional office network of the management review of the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

Mr. Alan Clark

[pursuant to his reply, 10 February 1986]: The implementation of the recommendations of the management review of the Export Credits Guarantee Department is still at an early stage and it is not yet possible to determine the overall impact on the regional offices. The review does recommend that certain activities currently undertaken by the regional offices should be centralised to the department's headquarters in Cardiff, but it also recommends an increased marketing effort, which is likely to require a substantial input from the regional offices. There are no plans at present to close any regional office.

Dr. McDonald

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if it is his intention to strengthen the regional office network of the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

Mr. Alan Clark

[pursuant to his reply, 10 February 1986]: The implementation of the recommendations of the management review of the Export Credits Guarantee Department is still at an early stage and it is not yet possible to determine the overall impact on the regional offices. The review does recommend that certain activities currently undertaken by the regional offices should be centralised to the department's headquarters in Cardiff, but it also recommends an increased marketing effort, which is likely to require a substantial input from the regional offices. There are no plans at present to close any regional office.

Forward to