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Austria (Trade)
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what nugatory costs have been incurred by (a) his Department, (b) British Trade International and (c) potential exhibitors as a result of the postponement of the fashion trade fair planned for May 2000 in Vienna; and if he will make a statement. [111635]
Dr. Howells: British Trade International had committed funding of £50,000 to 'Britain Now', spread equally over this and the next financial year.
With the postponement of the event there will now be no call on the second tranche of our funding, ie for the financial year 2000-01. Of the £25,000 already transferred to the project, we are likely to incur some cancellation charges (eg for the fashion show models), although the scale of these is not yet clear. Other "logistic" sponsors (eg freight carriers/shippers and venue) and potential exhibitors have already confirmed that any cancellation fees incurred now will be offset against costs when we reactivate 'Britain Now' at a later date.
Mr. Chope:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many British companies agreed to participate in the Trade Fair in Vienna in May 2000; and if he will list them. [111637]
Dr. Howells:
The 'Britain Now' event was to be a showcase initiative, promoting the best of British Design in all its aspects, including the Millennium Product Static Exhibition. It was a joint effort by the British Embassy, Vienna, and British Trade International aimed at businesses, opinion formers and the general public in Eastern Austria, but also attracting visitors from the growing markets of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary.
At the time of the postponement, the British Embassy was still receiving approaches from potential participants. Those participants already committed include the Crafts Council; The British Jewellery and Giftware Federation; Glasgow 1999; The Royal Institute of Architects; Jaguar; Rover; Morgan; Lotus; Rolls Royce; Bentley; Aston Martin; Williams Formula 1 (sponsored by Castrol); British Tourist Authority; British Council; Barbour; Burberry's; Chester Barry; Daks-Simpson; John Smedley; Johnstons of Elgin; Pringle of Scotland; Bella Freud; Jasper Conran and Tristan Webber.
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Mr. Chope:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the British companies that have informed (a) his Department and (b) British Trade International that they will not participate in the Trade Fair planned for May 2000 in Vienna. [111634]
Dr. Howells:
Bella Freud, fashion designer and granddaughter of Sigmund Freud, is the only participant to have withdrawn from participating in 'Britain Now' because of her family history in Austria. All other companies/organisations have already confirmed with the British Embassy and British Trade International their agreement to participate fully in 'Britain Now' at a later date.
Mr. Chope:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what trade promotion activities to further UK trade with Austria (a) his Department and (b) British Trade International will be sponsoring or supporting financially during 2000. [111632]
Dr. Howells:
It is important to stress that the sanctions imposed by the EU Member States on Austria are purely political measures. There is no trade embargo with Austria. British Trade International will therefore still be undertaking its normal trade promotion programme during 2000-01.
Initiatives under consideration include attendance by UK companies sponsored by British Trade International to attend key trade fairs; inward/outward missions and seminars.
Specifically:
Mr. Menzies Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what applications for credit guarantees were received by the ECGD, from which companies, for what amount, and on what date in respect of (a) the Pergau Dam, (b) Singapore Utilities Water Project, (c) the Turkwell Dam, (d) the Ewaso Ngiro Dam,
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(e) the Ajaokuta Steel Plant, (f) the Katse Dam and (g) the Meula Dam; which applications were approved, for what amount, and on what date; what payment has been made against each project by the ECGD and on what date; what ECGD liability exists against each project; and if he will make a statement. [110393]
Dr. Howells
[holding answer 21 February 2000]: ECGD can find no trace of applications for Credit Guarantees for the Singapore Utilities Water Project, the
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Turkwell Dam, and the Muela Dam. However ECGD was approached for support for the construction of an underground power station associated with the Muela Dam.
The answers to the question on the remaining Projects are set out in the following table.
The information on the Ajaokuta Steel Plant in Nigeria relates to an application for support for a Technical Training Centre associated with the Steel Plant.
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RETA, a fire and security trade fair in September 2000.
British Trade International is aiming to recruit 10-20 UK companies to participate in the four-day exhibition. Cost to British Trade International will be approximately £7K.
PSDB 2000 (Police Scientific Development Branch).
In April, British Trade International will undertake a pan-European inward mission to this exhibition, recruiting from Poland, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece. Two participants have been confirmed from Austria, out of a total of 20 missioners. Cost to British Trade International will be approximately £1K.
Gartentreff (gardening trade fair).
In October, British Trade International will be funding a UK brochure stand displaying brochures from approximately 20 UK companies. The stand will be manned by the British Embassy with a cost to British Trade International of approximately £2K.
Anglo/Austrian Forum. May 2000.
This is a business to business seminar focusing on Anglo-Austrian trade; Austria as a gateway to Central and Eastern Europe and young entrepreneurs. 10-15 UK companies will be participating at a cost to British Trade International of approximately £1K.
Southampton Boat Show. September 2000.
An inward mission with five Austrian buyers. Cost to British Trade International approximately £2K.
| Amount of and date of application | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Project | Exporter | Amount | Date |
| Pergau Dam, Malaysia | Balfour Beatty Construction Ltd. and | 1 buyer credit: £315m | December 88 |
| Cementation International Ltd. (joint venture) | Revised to £410m | March 90 | |
| 4 supplier credits: | |||
| £12.0m | 31 January 91 | ||
| £23.6m | 22 February 91 | ||
| £8.4m | 22 February 91 | ||
| £119.1m | 22 February 91 | ||
| Ewaso Ngiro Dam, Kenya | WLPU Consultants (now called Knight Piesold) | 1 buyer credit: (35)£43.8m | 9 April 90 |
| Ajaokuta Steel Plant, Nigeria | Carillion Construction | Figures unavailable | -- |
| Katse Dam, Lesotho | Kier International Ltd. and Sterling International Civil Engineering Ltd. (joint venture) | 1 buyer credit and 2 supplier credits> £267m | 10 December 90 |
(35) Loan value
Note:
Some figures are unavailable because repayments were lumped together with several other credits
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(36) Loan value + interest
(37) Plus interest
Note:
Some figures are unavailable because repayments were lumped together with several other credits
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