§ MR. HAROLD COXI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has at any time received any representations from British manufacturers asking for the appointment of Government commercial agents in British Colonies; whether those representations explain what service a Government agent will render which British manufacturers are incapable of procuring for themselves; and, if so, whether he will lay such representations upon the Table of the House.
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEIn this matter the Board of Trade are acting in consultation with their Commercial Intelligence Committee which is fully representative of British manufacturers, and one of whose principal functions is to advise the Board as to the best methods by which Government action can usefully help British traders by obtaining and circulating commercial information. The subject is too large a one to be discussed in answer to a Question.