Question

To ask Her Majesty’s Government (1) what was the budget for the Trade Show Access Programme (TAP) from 1 April to 30 March in (a) 2014–15, and (b) 2015–16; (2) what they expect the budget to be for the financial years (a) 2016–17, (b) 2017–18, and (c) 2018–19; and (3) whether the Minister for Trade and Investment plans to meet the Sponsors Alliance to discuss the future of the Trade Show Access Programme, and if so, when the meeting will take place.

The budget for the Tradeshow Access Programme was £11.05M in 2014/15 and the estimated spend in 2015/16 is £10.25M.

For 2016/17 and beyond, UKTI will be reviewing how the Tradeshow Access Programme is aligned with other Export Services as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review settlement. It is therefore not possible to confirm the budget at this stage.

I will respond positively to a request for a meeting with the Sponsors Alliance subject to diary commitments.