§ 44. Lieut.-Colonel GADIEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what grants, payments or allowances have been made or fixed in connection with the British Industries Fair for 1926 and 1927; whether any guarantee is required from exhibitors that all goods and material shown must be British made; and, if so, he will explain why certain toys marked as made in the United States of America are exhibited at this year's fair, and also German glass?
§ Mr. A. M. SAMUEL (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)A grant of £25,000 was made from public funds for advertising the British Industries Fair of 1926 and 1927. With regard to the second part of the question, all goods exhibited at the fair must, have been manufactured or produced mainly within the British Empire, and an undertaking is required from each exhibitor to that effect. As regards the last part of the question, my hen. Friend, perhaps, has in mind shooting game, of which one of the parts is a toy gun of foreign manufacture. This gun is not sold separately, and I have ascertained that its cost represents only a small percentage of the cost of the complete game. I have been unable to trace any glassware of foreign manufacture at the fair, except in cases where the greater part of the cost of the article is attributable to the value of the mountings, which are made with British labour and of British material.
§ Lieut.-Colonel GADIEMay I ask the hon. Member whether the article that he says was made overseas can be made in the British Empire; if so, what is he 374 doing to find out whether British goods only are exhibited; and will any action be taken where he finds that things not British-made are exhibited?
§ Mr. SAMUELWe have to depend on the exhibitors, who sign an undertaking on their honour as follows:
I (we) will not exhibit or solicit orders for goods other than those of our own manufacture," etc.We have to trust to the honour of the exhibitors in every case, and out of the large number of exhibits this year we have only had these two cases brought to the notice.
§ Lieut.-Colonel GADIEHas any action been taken where this particular article has been found, and will any action be taken if other evidence be brought to the notice of the Minister?
§ Mr. SAMUELNo, not in this particular case. The goods in question are mainly of British origin and manufacture, and I would ask my hon. and gallant Friend to accept the assurance that this gun is a trivial thing, and that it bears a very small relation to the total value of the exhibit of which it is a part.