To ask the President of the Board of Trade what initiatives her Department will undertake in response to the report by the joint DTI/FCO Export Forum, Towards an Export Initiative; and what part the Business Links will have in this initiative. [19582]

The Government has welcomed the thrust of the Export Forum's report and will be looking to take action in a number of areas identified by the report. Our response to some Forum recommendations will need to await the completion of the DTI and FCO Comprehensive Spending Reviews. Consistent with the Government's vision statement on Business Links, we will be taking forward the Forum's recommendations to raise quality and standards across the Business Link network, to encourage the spread of best practice and to improve communications between the Overseas Trade Services and Business Links.