HC Deb 18 January 2000 vol 342 cc378-9W
Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support his Department makes available to manufacturing companies based in non-assisted areas in(a) Chorley and (b) the North West. [105275]

Mr. Caborn

Support for manufacturers is listed at Annex A of the DTI report, "Manufacturing in the Knowledge Driven Economy". This report provides contact details for further information and can be found on the DTI website www.dti.gov.uk/comp/competitive.

In recent months my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has also announced a number of new initiatives which will assist in the creation and development of manufacturing companies: Regional Capital Venture Funds; a Phoenix Fund, the UK High Technology Fund and the Innovative High Growth Start Up Initiative which will be open to companies across the whole of the North West, including Chorley.

In addition, in the New Year my right hon. Friend announced the new Enterprise Grant scheme. This is part of the Government's response to the financing problems of SMEs. It is proposed that this will cover 64 per cent. of the population in the North West.

UK exports of goods and services—balance of payments basis
£ million
1990 1995 1996 1997 1998 19991
Goods
Austria 694 1,126 1,267 1,157 1,185 945
Belgium-Lux 5,557 8,312 8,538 8,444 8,423 7,377
Denmark 1,390 2,113 2,216 2,089 2,050 1,688
Finland 1,034 1,718 1,818 1,569 1,435 1,111
France 10,762 15,290 17,132 16,581 16,466 13,774
Germany 13,007 20,274 20,761 20,650 20,611 16,654
Greece 672 1,047 1,141 1,046 1,051 911
Ireland 5,224 7,806 8,683 9,347 9,610 8,674
Italy 5,525 7,895 8,043 8,200 8,615 6,348
Netherlands 7,393 12,362 13,516 13,901 13,004 11,190
Portugal 1,016 1,471 1,683 1,750 1.717 1,397
Spain 3,780 6,110 6,738 6,730 7,171 6,242
Sweden 2,669 4,160 4,429 4,444 4,401 3,314
EU 58,723 89,684 95,965 95,908 95,739 79,625
Canada 1,919 1,804 1,970 2,147 2,178 2,132
Mexico 263 277 317 428 544 487
USA 13,042 17,901 19,761 20,901 21,702 20,032
NAFTA 15,224 19,982 22,048 23,476 24,424 22,651
1 January to October

Note:

EU totals include exports to EU institutions.

Sources:

United Kingdom Balance of Payments, Pink Book, 1999, ONS. Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics, ONS

UK exports of goods and services—balance of payments basis
£ million
1990 1995 1996 1997 1998
Services
Austria 181 341 360 308 322
Belgium-Lux 801 1,440 1,415 1,577 1,722
Denmark 311 504 860 866 946
Finland 186 297 466 389 409
France 1,908 2,656 2,776 2,852 3,312
Germany 2,544 4,007 3,958 4,384 4,228
Greece 329 491 473 552 613
Ireland 853 1,926 2,168 2,255 2,412
Italy 1,096 1,468 1,581 1,687 1,835
Netherlands 1,067 1,775 2,017 2,299 2,535
Portugal 158 305 315 262 321
Spain 731 1,087 1,244 1,179 1,422
Sweden 561 817 907 948 1,078
EU 10,831 17,487 18,685 19,790 21,380
Canada 696 975 940 1,180 1,377
Mexico 102 143 104 145 148
USA 6,873 10,774 12,247 13,866 14,106
NAFTA 7,671 11,892 13,291 15,191 15,631

Note:

EU totals include exports to EU institutions.

Sources:

United Kingdom Balance of Payments, Pink Book, 1999, ONS.

Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics, ONS.