HC Deb 25 February 2003 vol 400 cc429-30W
Mr. Laws

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his estimate is of the expenditure of his Department, in enhancing the competitiveness of UK companies abroad in the latest year for which information is available; what contribution to this spending was made by the companies which benefited; and if he will make a statement. [98434]

Mr. Rammell

Enhanced competitiveness of companies in the UK through overseas sales and investment is the objective of Trade Partners UK (TPUK), which is part of British Trade International. The latest available figures for TPUK funding are set out in the table.

£million
Budget 2001–02 TPUK Outturn
Programme
Expenditure 61
Income -2
Administration costs
DTI 28
FCO1 136
Capital

Category of vehicle Number of vehicles Percentages replaced on an annual basis Petrol Diesel LPG/Electric
Cars 16 12 5 6 5-LPG
Light Goods Vans 14 15 — 13 1-electric
Minibuses 4 25 — 3 1-LPG
Heavy Goods Replaced between
Vehicles 5 5–7 years — 5 —

All UK fleet vehicles meet current government targets for emission levels. 18 per cent. of our fleet is LPG/ Electric. Alternative fuel and improved emission levels are always a factor in decisions on the purchase of new vehicles.

There is no standard replacement period for vehicles held by FCO's overseas posts. The timing depends on local circumstances and conditions including the availability of adequate maintenance facilities. The type of fuel used by the fleet of some 1400 vehicles is split between petrol (60 per cent.) and diesel (40 per cent.). Around 35 cent. of the fleet is purchased in the UK and good environmental performance was one of the criteria used to decide the award of the relevant contracts. Consequently vehicles supplied under these arrangements meet current government targets on emission levels.

£ million
Budget 2001-02 TPUK Outturn
DTI 5
FCO 1
1 FCO administration costs are shown for the whole of BTI. The figure cannot be broken down between TPUK and Invest UK funding.

Note:

FCO admin spend for 2001–02 represents the net operating costs as set out in the FCO Expenditure Allocation Report 2001–02.