To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what services his Department provides to the textile sector to enable companies to pursue business opportunities overseas. (253389)

UK Trade and Investment provides a wide range of support measures to companies seeking to do business in overseas markets, including financial assistance, through the Tradeshow Access Programme (TAP), to companies wishing to market their products or services at overseas exhibitions.

In financial year 2007-08 the TAP scheme supported 93 businesses at a cost of £240,000 in the Textiles sector. In the current financial year, 2008-09, we forecast supporting 106 businesses at a cost of £268,000.

The textile sector has also received £29,000 of support this year from UKTI’s Regional Challenge Fund, for activities such as enhancing the UK textile sector’s international media profile. The fund will be operating again in financial year 2009-10 and the textile sector will again be able to apply for support for suitable projects.