HC Deb 14 February 1994 vol 237 cc572-3W
Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list all television advertising, newspaper advertising, radio advertising and other promotional campaigns with a budgeted cost in excess of £10,000 conducted by(a) his Department and (b) his agencies (i) in the current financial year and (ii) planned for 1994–95, showing for each the objectives and mechanisms for assessing the effectiveness of the advertising.

Mr. Eggar

The Department's publicity advertising in the current year has included the following:

Export Services

  • Objective: to encourage firms to make use of Overseas Trade Services in tackling markets abroad.
  • Assessment: responses and take up of information and services.

Business in Europe

  • Objective: to encourage United Kingdom firms into other European markets, and to provide information and help.
  • Assessment: responses and take up of information and services.

Small firms merit award for research and technology

  • Objective: promotion of the SMART scheme to stimulate technological innovation in small firms.
  • Assessment: responses and applications.

Firework safety

  • Objective: to alert the public to the need to enjoy fireworks safely.
  • 573
  • Assessment: injury statistics are published annually.

Inward investment

  • Objective: to promote the United Kingdom as the preferred European location for foreign investment.
  • Assessment: awareness and monitoring of the number and quality of responses.

Queen's awards

  • Objective: to attract applicants for the Queen's Awards for Export, Technological and Environmental Achievement.
  • Assessment: responses and applications.

The Department has many other promotional programmes, most of which have involved little or no advertising expenditure in the current year. Each has its own objectives and evaluation arrangements. Examples of topics covered are: DTI services to business; export promotion; small firms and business link; innovation and technology services; consumer affairs; industry sponsorship; business and the environment; deregulation; renewable energy; United Kingdom space interests; assisted areas; manufacturing and management best practice; and United Kingdom offshore supplies expertise.

Most of these activities will continue in 1994–95, and media allocations will be made during the year according to need.

Details of advertising and other promotional activities by the Department's agencies are not held centrally.