§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support his Department plans to provide to assist the development strategy of the Association of British Chambers of Commerce.
§ Mr. LeighI announced on 4 October 1990 that I would offer chambers of commerce support towards the implementation of their strategy, as set out in "Effective Business Support: a UK Strategy", to strengthen the ability of the chambers' movement to provide a consistent, quality assured and comprehensive service for members throughout the United Kingdom by the end of 1994. This support, at a cost of £1.2 million over four years, will involve meeting up to 50 per cent. of the salary costs of an extra member of staff in some 30 chambers for a maximum of two years. Additionally I have offered the Association of British Chambers of Commerce up to £130,000 to help with the costs of establishing an electronic information network.
Parliamentary approval for this service will be sought in the 1991–92 main estimates for the Department of Trade and Industry--class IV, vote 2. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £31,000 will be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.