§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support the Government will give to British organic food producers at the Bio Fach trade fair in February 2000; and if he will make a statement. [97941]
§ Mr. ByersMy Department, through British Trade International, has invited the Soil Association to recruit a group of exhibitors at this edition of Bio Fach. In line with normal procedure, if the Association has by 15 December 1999 provided British Trade International with details of a minimum of 10 UK-based businesses who wish to exhibit as part of a supported group, we will pay to those businesses that are eligible grants covering 60 per cent. of their space and construction costs, up to a maximum of £2,300 per business. British Trade International requires the Association to canvass businesses based in any part of the UK who are exporting from the UK—whether or not they are its members. Whether any of those recruited are organic food producers is a matter for the Association, not for British Trade International.