Written question asked by Paul Flynn (Labour) on Tuesday, 11 November 1997, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 25 November 1997. It was answered by Baroness Beckett (Labour) on Tuesday, 25 November 1997 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what are the proportions of ECGD money spent on promoting and underwriting the sales of British (a) hi-tech products, (b) pharmaceuticals and (c) defence and defence-related products. - Inc figs. (Holding answer 14 November 1997).

Answer: Mr. Flynn: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the proportions of ECGD money spent on promoting and underwriting the sales of British (a) high tech products, (b) pharmaceuticals and (c) defence and defence-related products. [15979] Mrs. Beckett: [holding answer 14 November 1997]: Since the privatisation of its short-term operation in 1991, direct ECGD support for new export business has been confined to the capital goods and projects field. Such business is generally "high tech" in nature. From information readily available, ECGD has no record of having supported exports of pharmaceuticals since the short-term privatisation. The proportion of new ECGD business which related to defence or defence-related products in each of the last three years was 21 per cent. in 1994-95, 23 per cent. in 1995-96, and 16 per cent. in 1996-97.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 15979; 301 c511W
Session: 1997-98
Subjects: Defence equipment Exports Expenditure Drugs Export credit guarantees Weapons Technology
Contains statistics: Yes