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Export Forum

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the President of the Board of Trade who are the members of the new Export Forum; how they were appointed; and if she will set out the forum's terms of reference. [7678]

Mrs. Roche [holding answer 10 July 1997]: My Noble Friend the Minister for Trade and my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office announced yesterday the membership of the Export Forum. This is as follows:


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Members were invited to participate in the Forum after wide consultations both within Whitehall and with industry. The membership reflects a broad range of interests and expertise in area of international trade. The Forum's terms of reference are to consider:



    1. The effectiveness with which official support is provided for:
    (i) trade fairs;
    (ii) trade missions;
    (iii) sales leads;
    (iv) export marketing research;
    (v) UK firms bidding for overseas projects;
    (vi) other export promotion activities.
    2. The current arrangements for interdepartmental consultation.
    3. The current arrangements for consultation with business.
    4. The interface between the Overseas Trade Services and Business Links.
    5. The present system for establishing market and sectoral priorities.
    6. The marketing and branding of official export promotion services.
    To reach conclusions and recommendations by the autumn, without prejudice to the outcome of the President's comprehensive review of DTI's expenditure.

Small Shops

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps her Department is taking to prevent small shops' business being eroded by shops with charitable status which sell new goods. [7778]

Mrs. Roche [holding answer 10 July 1997]: I refer the hon. Member to the comments I made about charity shops, made during the debate on small retail shops on 2 July, Official Report, column 229.

Export Promotion

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list all of her Department's staff posted abroad concerned with export promotion. [7683]

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Mrs. Roche [holding answer 10 July 1997]: The following DTI staff are on loan to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to serve in commercial sections overseas:

NamePosting
Malcolm DayHong Kong
Stuart PyleMoscow
Richard HigginsToronto
Susan BishopPeking
Michael HurleyKuwait
Stuart GillChicago
Steven SmithHo Chi Minh City
Steven TruswellMoscow
Andrew HarrisonHarare
Simon CarterNew York
Deborah ClarkeTaipei
Roger NewellNew Delhi
Peter StephensonLagos
Bernard WilsonAmman
Paul GreyHong Kong
Sylvia ParnellLjubljana
Harold FormstoneHelsinki

In addition, 8 staff are currently on training attachments to commercial sections overseas.


Science and Technology Budget

Mr. Lansley: To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the comprehensive spending review of the science and technology budget will (a) commence and (b) be completed. [7587]

Mr. Battle [holding answer 10 July 1997]: The Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) will review all aspects of public expenditure including that on Science. The CSR will see that taxpayers' money is being spent effectively in order to fulfil the Government's manifesto commitments. It is already underway and will take 12 months to complete.

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Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the activities undertaken by the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Griffiths), to promote tourism in the United Kingdom. [7406]

Mrs. Beckett [holding answer 9 July 1997]: My hon. Friend has met representatives of the outbound travel industry who employ over 35,000 people in the UK and contribute over £1 billion to the British economy.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what engagements the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Griffiths) has fulfilled outside the United Kingdom. [7407]

Mrs. Beckett [holding answer 9 July 1997]: Since taking up post on 5 May 1997 my hon. Friend has undertaken the following engagements:



Mrs. Gillan: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the engagements for the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Griffiths), outside the United Kingdom during the next three months. [7404]

Mrs. Beckett [holding answer 9 July 1997]: None.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the President of the Board of Trade which Minister will be responsible for recommending a course of action to her on the MMC investigation into the travel and tourism industry; and what is the current role of the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Griffiths), in the inquiry. [7405]

Mrs. Beckett [holding answer 9 July 1997]: My hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Griffiths), has made it clear that he will stand aside from consideration of the MMC report into tour operators and travel agents. The report is not expected until November.