§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps she has taken to assist United Kingdom exporters in respect of problems faced as a result of current levels of sterling. [52634]
§ Mrs. RocheOur overseas trade services are geared towards helping firms export, independent of the strength of sterling.
Following the Export Forum's report last November, these services are being improved and extended. A National Exporters Database was launched on 1 July and a new Export Sales Leads Service will be introduced on 1 September. A new, simpler, system of Support for Exhibitions and Seminars abroad will apply to events opening after 1 April 1999. New programmes of activity in some of the target markets identified by the Export Forum have already been announced, including the Export Explorer for Western Europe. New programmes in the remaining target markets will be announced throughout the year.
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