To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what funds his Department provides to assist companies to attend trade fairs for the purpose of new business development. (253321)

UK Trade and Investment provides grant support for small and medium sized enterprises to exhibit at overseas trade fairs under the Tradeshow Access Programme (TAP). Grants are set at £1,000, £1,400 or £1,800 depending on the exhibition. From 1 April 2009 the support limit has been raised so that an eligible business may receive up to six grants in its lifetime (the previous limit was three). Details of TAP support are on the UKTI website at:

http://www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk/ukti/tap