§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the number, nature and size of charges made for services under the export initiative(a) in March 1989, and (b) in October 1989.
§ Mr. RedwoodThe information requested is as follows:
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DTI Export Services Number of Charges Nature of Charge Size of Charge (income generated) Service March 1989 October 1989 March 1989 October 1989 March 1989 £k October 1989 £k Export Representative Service 33 11 £517.50, £345.00, £172.50 depending on market As for March 12.6 1.91 Overseas status review service 21 17 £24.15 As for MIEs below 5.17 1 .61 Market Information Enquiries [MIEs] No Charge 108 No Charge Up to 4 hours work at Posts overseas = £57.50 over 4 hours=£115 No Charge 9.00 New Products Service No Charge 1 No Charge £57.50 per story No Charge 0.06 Export Intelligence Service 69,000 n/a £0.50p per notice n/a 34.5 n/a Overseas Trade Fairs 424 634 See below See below 548.00 992.00 It is difficult to compare the figures provided, as a new accounting system based on the use of the DTI service card for paying for most export services was introduced on 1 April 1989. The following should also be noted:
Overseas trade fairs: for fairs opening prior to 1 April 1990, the charge is 40 per cent. of the DTI's direct costs of providing space and exhibition stand for first time participants at an event, 55 per cent. for second timers and 75 per cent. for regular exhibitors. For events opening after 1 April 1990 the charge is 50 per cent. for the first three participations in a particular country (five for Japan) and full cost thereafter. Some of the receipts in October will be under the former regime and some under the latter.
Export Intelligence Service: elements of the export intelligence service have been contracted out to Export Opportunities Ltd. The information for October 1989 is commercially confidential.