HC Deb 01 July 1987 vol 118 cc90-1W
Mr. Fry

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will ask the British Overseas Trade Board to reconsider its decision to reduce its support for trade exhibitions in North America on behalf of the British footwear industry.

Mr. Alan Clark

The BOTB has decided not to support the footwear industry in 1987–88 at the National Shoes Fair in New York, as it has done in previous years. Even though it supports some 330 events each year, involving some 7,000 British companies, the BOTB cannot meet all the demands for such assistance. It has, therefore, to balance the needs of well-established sectors in a particular market with those of newcomers. As part of its extensive North American programme the board is supporting a number of other shows which include footwear, and if circumstances permit it to add new events to the programme during the year, it will take full account of the footwear industry's views.