Oral Answers to Questions

Gerald Jones Excerpts

Thursday 7th March 2024 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Gerald Jones (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney) (Lab)]

1. What steps she is taking to support small and medium-sized businesses to export.

[Feryal Clark (Enfield North) (Lab)]

6. What steps she is taking to support small and medium-sized businesses to export.

[The Minister for Industry and Economic Security (Ms Nusrat Ghani)]

My Department continues to help small and medium-sized enterprises to grow overseas and export to the world, especially this year—the year of the SME. Businesses can access a digital self-serve offer and a wide network of support, including trade advisers, export champions, the UK Export Academy, our international markets network and UK Export Finance. Last year, UK Export Finance provided £6.5 billion to exporters of all sizes, with SMEs comprising a record 84% of those supported directly with a product.

[Gerald Jones]

SMEs in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney tell me of their frustrations around exporting goods and now the Government have scrapped the trade show programme, which was set up to support British businesses to attend events and win overseas orders. Will the Minister tell the House and the thousands of businesses that rely on that vital support when there will be a replacement?

[Ms Ghani]

UK exports are increasing. Using current prices, they are up by £21 billion compared with 2023. The UK trade show was a pilot programme that did not yield the successes we thought it would, so we have other schemes in place, including the UK Export Academy, international trade advisers, Help to Grow and the export support service. Focusing on Wales, we will soon be appointing a new international trade adviser to help SMEs.