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In 2018, the Government announced its export strategy and an ambition to raise exports as...
Conclusion
In 2018, the Government announced its export strategy and an ambition to raise exports as a proportion of GDP from 30% to 35%.24 This committee has recently highlighted how important it is for any public body to be clear about and accountable for what it is trying to achieve, and the criteria it will use to judge whether it is being successful. Furthermore, we emphasised the need for performance information that helps public bodies understand how effective they are and what impact they are having, so they can judge progress and take corrective action when they are not on track.25 However, the Government has not set a timescale for achieving its export growth ambition, and the 35% 16 Q 54 17 Q 24 18 Q 70 19 Q 67 20 Qq 40, 41 21 C&AG’s Report, para 2.14. 22 Federation of Small Businesses written evidence to the Public Accounts Committee inquiry into Government support for UK exporters, 11 September 2020, para 11 23 Q 69 24 C&AG’s Report, para 13 25 Committee of Public Accounts, 107th Report, 2017–19, Consumer Protection, 12 July 2019, HC 1752 12 Government support for UK exporters target is dependent on contributions from other parties including independent efforts by UK industry.26 In our view, the measure is not satisfactory because it can also be affected by fluctuations in GDP.27
Government Response
Not Addressed
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
3. 1 The government disagrees with this recommendation. 3.2 The department already publishes metrics which cover its activities supporting exports, as part of a balanced suite of indicators. Metrics have been identified or are under development for all priority outcomes set out in the 2020 Spending Review: • Secure world-class free trade agreements and reduce market access barriers, ensuring that consumers and businesses can benefit from both • Deliver economic growth to all the nations and regions of the UK through attracting and retaining inward investment • Support UK business to take full advantage of trade opportunities, including those arising from delivering FTAs, facilitating UK exports • Champion the rules-based international trading system and operate the UK’s new trading system, including protecting UK businesses from unfair trade practices. 3.3 The volume of export performance measures has grown in the past year, and DIT publishes information relating to many of the recommended measures. For example, summary data on the department’s work to reduce and remove market access barriers were included in its 2019-20 Annual Report and Accounts and the impact assessment has been published for the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The department has also committed to publish impact assessments of all future FTAs and will monitor their implementation through measures such as the utilisation rate of trade preferences. 3.4 The department is committed to developing a better understanding of its impact and contribution to export performance, using long-term measures and international comparators where relevant. DIT is developing a theory of change for the whole department, which demonstrates how trade agreements, trade policy and trade promotion activities contribute to export performance. These underpin DIT’s framework, which includes a range of measures for each objective to provide a balanced scorecard, accounting for known limitations in particular metrics and links our measures to the department’s activities, outputs and outcomes. The department will not commit to publish any specific additional metrics until it is sure that the metric in question is a robust, fair and accurate presentation of the department’s contribution to export performance.
Source
Committee
Public Accounts Committee
Report
Twenty-First Report - Government support for UK exporters
28 Oct 2020
HC 679
Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age
5.6 yrs
Report published
28 Oct 2020