---

AMENDMENT OF THE LAW

Thank you very much. I endorse the remarks of the hon. Member for Solihull (Lorely Burt). We share a common interest in the success of the auto industry, not least because, although manufacturing employment in the west midlands has fallen from about 92,000 people 10 years ago to about 71,000 now, our region still massively outdoes any other region in auto industry employment. Our auto industry’s exports in 2006 were almost double what they were in 2005, but imports of autos have risen even faster. We now have a trade imbalance of £6 billion- plus, compared with only £3 billion in 1995. So, there we are. Manufacturing industry in aerospace, in autos and in other areas has, without question, responded magnificently to the challenge of global competition by rapidly improving its productivity figures, and that is to be applauded. I am not saying that the Government have done nothing; I know very well that they have taken action, and I have been cheering along many of the initiatives that have been taken. However, we must also consider the kind of support that is being provided in France, Germany and Japan. This brings me to the point raised by the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) about trade fairs. Frankly, we are pretty abysmal at all that. We set up an organisation—UKTI—under this Government in 1999, and we promised that it would do the job of ensuring that Britain’s voice in trade was heard far and wide. The truth is, however, that we have under-resourced it ever since. A proper review of the needs of UKTI must take place without delay, so that it can fund the trade missions that make such a difference, especially to small and medium-sized companies. The bigger companies can look after themselves in the world market in most cases, as long as their own Governments are providing the right framework. Our local chambers of trade and the regional agencies are anxious to promote the worldwide opportunities for export that the smaller companies often do not take advantage of, simply because they lack the support to take them abroad to do the business. I ask those on the Treasury Bench, again, please to recognise that in UKTI, whatever faults have been found and criticisms have been made, there are the tools to do the job—but as ever, we need to ensure that it has the resources to back up the work that it can do and the expertise that it has developed over these years. We need to recognise that we must stop fiddling with it—with name changes, different duties, sectionalising what can be done, and targeting this and that. For goodness’ sake, let us recognise that in many ways one export product is as good as any other, and give that general support to the exporting effort that I know would be extremely welcome. There you have it. We are doing good but, in the words of the advert, ““We’re no’ doing great.”” The way to do that is to support our manufacturing and exporting industries and to ensure that the heart of this country and its wealth creation is in good shape for the future.