§ 69. Mr. BETHELasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many of the fabrics in the textile section of the British Industries Fair were of foreign origin; and if in future stipulations will be made that articles shown at the fair must be of British manufacture throughout?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Herbert Williams)I have been asked to reply. My attention has been called to the fact 958 that some of the linings of overcoats shown in the textile section were of foreign origin. The regulations regarding the admissibility of exhibits at the British Industries Fair require that they must have been manufactured or produced mainly within the British Empire, and I have no reason for supposing that any exhibits did not come within the terms of this regulation. With regard to the second part of the question, I feel that it would be undesirable to lay down a regulation that exhibits must be 100 per cent. British manufacture. Such a regulation would exclude many exhibits which are essentially British in character, and can usefully be shown at the fair to the advantage of British industry.