UK Inquiry Tracker

Government support for UK exporters

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry

Opened: 27 Jul 2020 Closed: 9 Nov 2020 Parliament page

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is a new department established in 2016 following the EU exit referendum, to be “at the heart of the Government’s independent trade policy following EU exit”. In 2019 the UK exported goods and services worth £698.6bn. Overall, the UK is the 6th largest exporter … Read more

6 Recommendations

18 Conclusions

1 Report

1 Oral session

2 Letters

1 Event

Activity timeline 5 events

16 Nov
2021

Correspondence

Correspondence from James Bowler, Permanent Secretary, Department for International Trade, re update on the work that the Department has un…

25 Oct
2021

Correspondence

Correspondence Louis Taylor, Chief Executive, UK Export Finance, re UK Export update, dated 28 September 2021

4 Feb
2021

Report published

Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Twenty-first report from Session 2019-21

28 Oct
2020

Report published

Twenty-First Report - Government support for UK exporters

14 Sep
2020

Oral evidence

Government support for exporters

Oral evidence sessions 1 session

14 Sep 2020

View on parliament.uk

Government support for exporters

Antonia Romeo · Ministry of Justice Catherine Vaughan · Department for Work and Pensions Darren Tierney · Department for International Trade Louis Taylor · UK Export Finance

Reports 1 report · click to expand

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
Twenty-First Report - Government support for UK exporters	HC 679	28 Oct 2020	24	Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

2 results

5 Recommendation Accepted in Part

Twenty-First Report - Government s…

UK Export Finance directly supported only 199 customers in total in 2019–20, failing to meet...

UK Export Finance directly supported only 199 customers in total in 2019–20, failing to meet its own target of 500. UKEF attributes failing to meet its customer target to a lack of awareness among smaller businesses of what UKEF offers, … Read more UK Export Finance directly supported only 199 customers in total in 2019–20, failing to meet its own target of 500. UKEF attributes failing to meet its customer target to a lack of awareness among smaller businesses of what UKEF offers, a potential decline in demand, a lack of appetite from banks and issues with its application process. UKEF is introducing more flexible products which are expected to be more attractive to smaller businesses in a wider range of markets and help increase customer numbers. These include the General Export Facility which will support businesses’ overall export working capital requirements, rather than linking this support to specific contracts. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic it has also expanded the scope of its Export Insurance Policy to a wider number of markets, with the aim of protecting UK exporters from the risk of non-payment, and it has taken steps to proactively engage with the renewable energy sector, supporting projects in Taiwan, Spain and Ghana. However, how effective UKEF is at meeting its customers’ needs is unclear because, unlike the Department, it does not survey its customers to assess their satisfaction with its products and application processes. Recommendation: UKEF should report back to us in writing by September 2021 with an update on progress and action is has taken to: • Proactively target the green technology and renewable energy market. • Increase the number of SMEs it is supporting in a wider range of countries through take up of its new General Export Facility, and consider using UKEF recently approved marketing budget to do that. 8 Government support for UK exporters • Support exporters during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in relation to the expansion of the scope of its Export Insurance Policy to a wider number of markets. • Develop and implement a customer satisfaction survey. UKEF should consider the merits of developing its own survey as well as working with the Department to identify oppor Show less

Government Response

The government agrees to the recommendation, stating it launched the General Export Facility (GEF) and refreshed its "Exporters Edge" marketing campaign to increase support for SMEs. However, the response does not explicitly address the recommendations to proactively target green technology, support exporters during COVID-19, or develop a customer satisfaction survey.

HM Treasury

View details

16 Recommendation Accepted in Part

Twenty-First Report - Government s…

The FSB also reported that the Department’s International Trade Advisors can vary in quality, that...

The FSB also reported that the Department’s International Trade Advisors can vary in quality, that small businesses do not know about the Department’s ‘Report a trade barrier’ scheme and are not using it, and that very small firms do not … Read more

Government Response

The government agrees and will explore accreditation for International Trade Advisers and promote the 'report a trade barrier' service by September 2021. However, the response does not explicitly address the recommendation regarding TAP grants for virtual trade shows or analyzing why businesses export only once.

HM Treasury

View details

Government Response AI assessment · 21 of 6 classified

Accepted 12

Accepted in Part 2

Not Addressed 3

Rejected 4

Total 6 recs + 18 conclusions

Correspondence 2 letters

16 Nov 2021 Correspondence from James Bowler, Permanent Secretary, Department for International Trade, re update on the work that the Department has undertaken in response to the recommendations made by the Public Accounts Committee, dated 29 October 2021

Parliament page

25 Oct 2021 Correspondence Louis Taylor, Chief Executive, UK Export Finance, re UK Export update, dated 28 September 2021

Parliament page