§ 44. Mr. WINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if the Joint Committee for Furtherance of British Trade Overseas will consider the advisability of adding to its number a representative or representatives of the commercial travellers of Great Britain and Ireland, also co-opting representative commercial travellers in His Majesty's Dominions and Dependencies Overseas, whose expert knowledge of the art of salesmanship would add greatly to the usefulness of the Committee in question; if so, when this will be done; and, if not, will he state the reason?
§ Sir ARTHUR STEEL-MAITLANDI presume that the question asked by my hon. Friend relates to the Advisory Committee to the new Joint Department of Overseas Trade (Development of Intelligence). It is intended that this Committee shall represent as fully as possible the various British industrial, commercial, and financial interests concerned with overseas trade. My hon. Friend will, I am sure, recognise that the number of members of the Committee must be limited, so as to secure efficient and practical working, and. in view of the numerous interests to be taken into account, it is impossible at the present time to give any definite undertaking as to the separate representation of any particular class.
§ Mr. WINGSurely there should be some better reason for the exclusion of a class so closely related to trade than mere numbers. Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the question whether the Committee will consider the advisability of including some representation of commercial travellers?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDCertainly we will consider the advisability, and, in any case, the hon. Gentleman may rest assured that we would be delighted to keep in touch with them, so as to get the best possible benefit from their experience and knowledge of conditions.