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Business, Innovation and Skills

Volume 605: debated on Wednesday 27 January 2016

Trade, Exports, Innovation and Productivity

The following is an extract from the closing speech by the Minister for Universities and Sciences in the Opposition day debate on Trade, Exports, Innovation and Productivity on 13 January.

The number of United Kingdom companies that are exporting is growing strongly—it has increased by 18% since 2010—and Scottish companies are also exporting more. In 2011 there were 9,300 Scottish exporters; now there are 11,100. Our trade deficit is responding, and narrowed in the three months to November.

[Official Report, 13 January 2016, Vol. 604, c. 959.]

Letter of correction from the Minister for Universities and Science.

An error has been identified in the closing speech to the debate. The correct statistics should have been:

The number of companies in Great Britain that are exporting is growing strongly—it has increased by 18% since 2010—and Scottish companies are also exporting more. In 2011 there were 9,300 Scottish exporters; now there are 11,100. Our trade deficit is responding, and narrowed in the three months to November.