Empire Marketing Board
35.
asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if it is intended to provide facilities for Members of Parliament to view some of the important films under the control of the Empire Marketing Board?
In pursuance of the promise which I gave in reply to a question by the hon. Member for North Newcastle-on-Tyne (Sir N. Grattan-Doyle) on 20th March, arrangements have now been made for a short private display of Empire Marketing Board films to Members of Parliament in the New Gallery Cinema at 11 a.m. on Thursday, 10th April. Tickets of admission have already been sent to Members of the House.
Are these films classified for quota under the Cinematograph Films Act?
I require notice of that question.
Will this performance be over before the vote on the suspension of the Eleven o'Clock Rule?
The performance only lasts about an hour.
Are any fees received by the Colonial Office or the Empire Marketing Board?
I must ask the hon. Member to put down that question.
36.
asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether it is the intention of the Government to extend the operations of the Empire Marketing Board so as to cover the popularisation of British products in the Dominions and Colonies?
The extension suggested would lie outside the purposes for which the Empire Marketing Fund was provided.
South America
63.
asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he will publish a White Paper showing what his Department is doing, has done, or proposes to do to put into operation on its own initiative the recommendations contained in the Report of Lord D'Abernon's mission to South America; and will he issue the White Paper in two parts, one dealing with the Department's action upon recommendations as to the Argentine trade and the other as to Brazilian trade?
I am meeting Lord D'Abernon and members of his mission to-morrow, in order to discuss the recommendations of his Report, in so far as they affect my Department. I do not at present propose to issue a White Paper, as suggested by the hon. Member.
Will the hon. Gentleman, therefore, make a full statement as to what he has done to give effect to the recommendations of the Report after he has seen Lord D'Abernon, and when his Vote comes up before the House?
I shall certainly be prepared to do that if it is the desire of the House.
Imperial Economic Committee
37.
asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs who are the members of the Imperial Economic Committee; on how many occasions has the Committee met since March, 1929; what subjects have been under its consideration; and what action has been taken in respect of its recommendations since that date?
As the answer is a long one and contains a list of names and many particulars, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Will the hon. Gentleman give an indication to the House now as to whether this Committee has met at all, and, if so, how often it has met and what useful purpose it serves?
The hon. Member will see from the reply that there have been 49 meetings of the Committee and sub-committees since 1st April, 1929,
Following is the answer:
The members of the Imperial Economic Committee are:
The Right Hon. Sir Halford Mackinder (Chairman).
United Kingdom: Sir Arthur Balfour, Baronet, K.B.E. Sir Thomas Allen, Mr. H. Snell, M.P., Mr. F. N. Blundell.
Canada: Mr. Harrison Watson, Mr. W. A. Wilson.
Australia: Mr. F. L. McDougall, C. M. G.
New Zealand: Mr. T. M. Wilford, K.C., High Commissioner, Mr. R. S. Forsyth.
South Africa: Mr. J. Dimond (one seat vacant).
Irish Free State: Mr. J. W. Dulanty, C.B., C.B.E. (one seat vacant).
Newfoundland: Mr. William C. Job (one seat vacant).
India: Sir Atul Chatterjee, K.C.I.E., High Commissioner, Mr. S. Gupta, Mr. H. A. F. Lindsay, C.I.E.. C.B.E., alternate to Sir Atul Chatterjee.
Southern Rhodesia: Sir Francis Newton, K.C.M.G., C.V.O.. High Commissioner.
Colonies and Protectorates: Sir Gilbert Grindle, K.C.M.G., C.B., Mr. J. H. Batty.
Forty-nine meetings of the Committee and sub-committees have been held since 1st April, 1929.
A report on improving the methods of preparing pigs and pig products for market and marketing within the United Kingdom has been issued; another on hides and skins is in preliminary draft; a trade survey on rubber manufactured goods is in the Press; a memorandum on the import and export trade of the British Empire in 1913 and in 1925 to 1928 has been issued; inquiries are in progress for a marketing report on tea, coffee and cocoa; and a list of raw materials for possible further marketing inquiries is under consideration.
Many of the recommendations suggest action which falls mainly to producers or traders to carry into effect. Those requiring action by Government fall for the most part within the province of the Empire Marketing Board which is largely engaged in carrying out and developing suggestions made by the Imperial Economic Committee.