§ 29. Mr. ThomasonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what priority he attaches to export promotion in setting his Department's overall objectives. [20449]
§ Mr. GoodladPromoting trade is recognised by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary as one of the FCO's key long-term objectives.
Commercial work is our posts' largest single activity, accounting for 30 per cent. of front-line staff. They offer a wide range of commercial services for exporters. But there is no clear dividing line between export promotion and many of our posts' other activities. For instance ambassadors provide British companies with high-quality political and economic advice as well as invaluable door opening.