§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the sectors in which e-commerce impact studies to help small businesses connect to the digital marketplace are to be carried out in 2000–01.[125969]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 15 June 2000]: Thirteen studies are under way, (steel; chemicals; aerospace; metal forming and finishing; downstream gas; upstream oil and gas; biotechnology; motor vehicle retailing; clothing supply chain; furniture; exhibitions and events; telecommunication services and electronics manufacturing).
71WFurther studies, in sectors still to be decided, will begin in the second half of the year.
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the estimated cost is of the multi-channel marketing campaign to help small businesses connect to the digital marketplace; and when the campaign will be implemented.[125975]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 15 June 2000]: The budget has been agreed for the multi-channel marketing campaign for this financial year is £1.0 million. A similar amount has been earmarked for the following two financial years. Staff have recently been recruited to implement this campaign and are currently prioritising which channels DTI should be working with. The campaign will start to be delivered over the remaining months of this financial year through different channels as joint plans are agreed.
This activity results from one of 60 recommendations in the 'e-commerce@its.best.uk' report. Progress on these recommendations is published regularly on the e-envoy's website www.e-envoy.gov.uk and more detail is given under 'Marketing' on the Information Society Initiative website www.isi.gov.uk.