prospects of a mission they should formulate them; but there is often room for a genuine difference of opinion on commercial prospects, and while posts' opinions will be given full weight they will not be regarded as decisive. Any doubts or objections should be firmly expressed when the mission is first suggested. Normally this should not tbe too difficult in view of the rule (heading 2 above) that sponsors must present "reasonably well prepared proposals". In the case of Chamber of Commerce and similar missions, however, it may not be possible to assess commercial prospects without knowing the details of the proposed composition of the mission. The composition of missions is a matter on which the Board of Trade and BNEC have particular difficulty in intervening (heading 5 below); but in such cases posts may find it advisable, when replying to a suggestion for a mission, to make it clear that they reserve the right to comment further on the commercial prospects once they have details of the composition. This will serve as a market to the Board of Trade and BNEC that they may later have to intervene in support of the post's opinion.
5.
Composition
Posts have in the past objected to the composition of missions, either because of the personalities involved or because they thought certain individuals would not fit in with the character of the mission, e.g. a fact-finder in a hard-sell mission, or because of lack of commercial prospects (heading 4 above). In practice, there is little that can be done to alter the composition of missions once the members have been chosen or chosen themselves. Wherever possible, however, the Board of Trade and/or the BNEC will bring posts' views to the notice of sponsoring organisations and urge that they may be given full consideration.
6.
Consultation of Individual Requirements
Sponsors must arrange for all individual members of missions to contact ESB (in the case of vertical missions) or the Regional Offices of the Board of Trade (for Chamber of Commerce and similar missions) at least two months before departure with their detailed requirements. In order to ensure that adequate information is provided ESB and the Regional Offices will use a standard questionnaire. The period of two months may only be reduced with the approval of BNEC in consultation with the posts and the Board of Trade. If a post has not had, within a least six weeks of the arrival date, the detailed requirements of a member of a mission it has discretion to require, in consultation with ESB or the Regional Offices, the removal of that member from the mission.
7.
Preparation of Programme
Posts are expected to use their discretion in the preparation of programmes for visiting missions. They should in the first place consider how far group or corporate activities and functions are appropriate. An initial briefing session will nearly always be advisable; but apart from that much will depend on the type of mission (vertical or mixed bag), on the extent to which it can make an impact as a mission rather than generate business for its individual members, and in general on the level of representation. Secondly, some discretion is permissible when arranging individual programmes. Naturally all reasonable specific requests for contacts should be met. Equally, however, when a mission member has a local agent it is reasonable that as much as possible of the responsibility for looking after the visitor should be left to him.
When a mission member has no local agent and has been less specific regarding the contacts he wishes to make, it may on occasion, depending on the type, composition and level of the mission, be right to treat him as if he were an individual business visitor, providing initial contacts and further help and contacts as the visit progresses but with no detailed pre-arranged programme. In all cases, however, posts should make it clear to the sponsoring organisation just how far they propose to go in arranging a programme.
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