HC Deb 20 July 1999 vol 335 cc506-7W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the (i) agenda and (ii) purpose of the ambassadors for British Business meeting with Ministers in July 1998; who attended; what documentation was available; what briefing material was provided; and if he will list those occasions(a) when the ambassadors have met in an official capacity and (b) where they have reported back, with an estimate of the total trade agreements reached consequentially. [91840]

Mr. Hoon

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met 12 ambassadors for British Business in July 1998. The aim was to review progress and consider how the scheme could be developed, to hear the views of the Business ambassadors on promoting Britain's image overseas and to underline that the scheme should be used to boost inward investment as well as British business overseas. There was no formal agenda. No briefing material or documentation was provided for the Business ambassadors for the meeting.

There is no requirement for the ambassadors for British Business to submit reports following their overseas engagements. The ambassadors for British Business are not involved in negotiating trade agreements.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those Ambassadors for British Business who also serve on other Government working groups, broken down by group. [91848]

Mr. Hoon

The information that is readily available is as follows:

  • Sir David John
    • FCO Panel 2000
    • Member of Board of British Trade International
  • Lord Marshall of Knightsbridge
    • FCO Panel 2000
    • Government Task Force on the Industrial Use of Energy
  • Sir Iain Valiance
    • Scottish Business Forum
    • Board of Scottish Enterprise
  • Lord Paul
    • FCO Panel 2000
    • Foreign Policy Centre Advisory Council
    • Indo-British Partnership
  • Adair Turner
    • FCO Business Panel
  • Sir David Alliance
    • British Overseas Trade Group for Israel
  • Sir Richard Sykes
    • Central R&D Committee for the NHS
    • National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education
    • Council for Science and Technology
    • Trade Policy Forum
    • 507
  • Iain Dale
    • FCO Business Panel
    • Southern Asia Advisory Group
    • British Council "BOND" scheme
  • Nicholas Scheele
    • Foresight Manufacturing Committee (OST)
  • Sir Trevor Chinn
    • Commission for Integrated Transport
    • Cleaner Vehicles Task Force
  • Sir Richard Greenbury
    • Israel-British Business Council
  • David Brown
    • University for Industry Board of Directors
    • Vocational Qualifications and Occupational Standards Committee
    • Spectrum Management Advisory Group
    • Industrial Development Advisory Board
    • ITEC Skills Strategy Group
    • Information Age Partnership Policy Group
  • Lord Haskins
    • Better Regulation Task Force
    • New Deal Task Force
    • Yorkshire and The Humber Regional Development Agency
  • Paul Smith
    • Creative Industries Task Force
  • Sir Patrick Gillam
    • British Business Council
  • John M. Neill
    • Manufacturing Panel
  • Martin Sorrell
    • FCO Panel 2000.