HC Deb 19 January 1999 vol 323 cc435-6W
Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in improving the business promotion activities of British embassies. [64605]

Mr. Fatchett

There is a number of initiatives in progress to strengthen further the export promotion services offered by our 219 commercial posts overseas. Implementation of Export Forum recommendations has given a sharper focus on priority markets, and following the Comprehensive Spending Review we will be creating over 120 new commercial slots overseas. To strengthen our professionalism we have increased interchange between the private sector and FCO/DTI staff and refocused staff training and development programmes. Our expanded Quality Management System shows increased levels of customer satisfaction. 1999 will see further improved levels of service provision with greater use of information technology/Internet based services by overseas commercial posts based on the TradeUk service launched in September 1998.

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