HC Deb 16 September 2004 vol 424 c1722WS
Mr. Arbuthnot

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the lowering of the target rate in the public service agreement indicator for UK Trade and Investment to show positive assistance to new-to-export firms indicates a decreasing level of support to such businesses; and if she will make a statement. [189294]

Mr. Alexander

The target has been raised not lowered. A new PSA indicator, agreed in the recent Spending Review, requires at least 40 per cent. of new to export firms funded by UK Trade and Investment to improve their business performance within two years. The previous target was 30 per cent. Although the overall level of resources being allocated to trade development will be reduced following the spending review, UK Trade and Investment is committed to increasing by 30 percentage points the proportion to trade development resources focused on new to export firms.

Mr. Arbuthnot

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why her Department has lowered the minimum target rate to be achieved in 2004–06 from that most recently achieved by UK Trade and Investment in assisting new-to-export firms to improve their business performance. [189315]

Mr. Alexander

The target rate has been raised not lowered for the 2005–06 to 2007–08 period.