Manufacturers welcome Select Committee report on export support

EEF also urges government to heed its recommendations and provide adequate resources for trade support. EEF director general, Martin Temple, says: “Manufacturers are growing ever more dependent on overseas markets and UKTI performs a vital function in supporting them. At a time when world markets are growing so strongly with extensive growth opportunities, government must now back UKTI's leadership and provide an adequate level of funding.” EEF had given written and oral evidence to the Committee based on two reports it had produced earlier this year on export support and the role of the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs). EEF’s recommendations included urging government to back UKTI with adequate resources in the forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review (funding for trade support has fallen by a third between 2003/4 and 2007/8). EEF also urged priorities to be set as to which services are best organised nationally and which are best developed in the regions. This would help address the danger of duplication of activity, inconsistency of service and dilution of expertise.