§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what involvement his Department has had in encouraging British firms to sell environmental control equipment to the countries of eastern Europe at the forthcoming Brno exhibition in Czechoslovakia; with what results; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Forth[holding answer 19 July 1990]: When my Department's programme of assistance of overseas trade for 1990–91 was drawn up last year, consideration was given to the inclusion of a British group at the exhibition to which the hon. Member refers (ENVIBRNO). However, demand for support at other trade fairs worldwide was so great that it was not possible to include ENVIBRNO in the programme. There was, of course, nothing to prevent United Kingdom firms from attending ENVIBRNO if they wished to do so.
The Department is providing support for some 60 British companies at the annual Brno general engineering fair in September, where it is expected that some will be exhibiting environmental control equipment.