§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the President of the Board of Trade when the database of United Kingdoms exports accessible on line by all overseas posts will be completed; and at what cost. [7685]
§ Mrs. Roche[holding answer 10 July 1997]: There is no single database of UK exporters but a customised CD-ROM directory of British business is being made available to UK overseas posts by the FCO. This has been developed by Reed Business Information following an open tender procedure managed by the FCO. The contractual arrangements are commercial-in-confidence. Overseas posts are also being equipped with facilities to access the Internet enabling them to utilise the increasing range of commercially available directory products now appearing on the world wide web. In addition my department is supporting a project under the Information Society Initiative Programme for Business called TradeUK which aims to help UK exporters gain profile on the Internet. Further use of electronic databases in support of UK exporters will be considered by the Export Forum.