§ Mr. ToddTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the different roles of the Defence Export Services Organisation and the Export Opportunities Service (Defence and Security). [38331]
§ Mr. SpellarThe Defence Export Services Organisation, DESO, is a part of the Ministry of Defence. Its role is to provide British defence exporters with the best possible Government support, within the framework of our defence, security and foreign policies. This includes the following activities:
the bringing together of overseas customers and UK suppliers;the co-ordination of industrial sales activities to provide an integrated national approach to markets;280Wthe administration of Government to Government defence contracts;the development, with industry of a five year strategic plan which identifies key markets and the priority campaigns within these markets;the disposal of surplus MOD equipment;the provision of professional military assistance in support of defence exports;the organisation and hosting of visits to the UK by senior Government and military personnel from overseas;the provision of advice on export project finance;the co-ordination of MOD advice to DTI on export licence applications.Unlike DESO, the Export Opportunities (Defence and Security) Service, EO(DS)S, is a commercial venture operated by the Defence Manufacturers Association and the Association of Police and Public Security Suppliers. Consequently, its activities do not fall within the responsibility of the MOD. However, I understand that EO(DS)S, which has been established with the support of the Department of Trade and Industry under the Sector Challenge Scheme, has a narrower role to that of DESO. It is principally concerned with the establishment of a system for the collation and dissemination of up to date market intelligence information to British industry.
While the EO(DS)S has only recently been established, the MOD will support any initiative which is aimed at assisting the British Defence industry within the framework of our defence, security and foreign policy objectives.