HC Deb 24 November 1925 vol 188 cc1115-6
1. Mr. BENNETT

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to give effect to the Buy British Goods Campaign?

20. Mr. CAMPBELL

asked the President of the Board of Trade what have been the concrete results of the Ministerial appeal to buy British goods?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister)

A large number of local authorities have expressed their intention of supporting the proposal to hold a British Shopping Week before Christmas, and I have heard that at Glasgow and Birmingham, among other places, a British Shopping Week will be held during the next three weeks. It is obviously impossible to state what the concrete results will be, but I have every reason to hope that a considerable impetus will be given to British trade.

Colonel DAY

Will the right hon. Gentleman state whether any notification has been sent to Government Departments who are continually buying American and German goods?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

Yes. I do not think the statement about habitually buying German and American goods is altogether accurate. At any rate, it is not accurate as regards the present Government since it came into office, because the Government Departments have been most strongly pressed on this question from time to time.

Lieut.-Colonel WATTS-MORGAN

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, when the last contract was made for upholstering the benches of the House of Lords, foreign materials were used?

Mr. T. WILLIAMS

Would it not be better to have a census prepared as to the extent to which foreign goods are used?

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the instruments used by the Post Office to stamp the words "Buy British Goods" on letters were manufactured abroad?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

I am aware of that, because no such instrument could be procured in this country.

Colonel DAY

Is the President of the Board of Trade aware that the switchboards supplied to the Post Office have been supplied from Germany?