Performance Of UK Trade And Investment Towards British Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises

EDM number 84 in 2013-14, proposed by Daniel Kawczynski on 14/05/2013.
Categorised under the topics of International trade and Small businesses.

That this House notes that the feedback from over 300 British small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) interviewed by the hon. Member for Shrewsbury over the last eight months for a report on the performance of UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) has highlighted many areas for concern; further notes that the report will be published on 10 June; urges the Government to take note of the profound frustrations that many SMEs are facing with regard to their interaction with this organisation; believes that for British exports to enjoy an increase commensurate with the Government's aspirations, UKTI should be privatised and become a single entity with the chief executive and his board being able to manage staff independently without interference from the Foreign Office and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills; and further notes that under such a private structure the right calibre of commercial sales experts can be engaged who would be able to provide levels of service rightly demanded by Britain's entrepreneurs.

This motion has been signed by a total of 9 MPs.