§ 25. Viscount SANDONasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is aware of the lack of progress in the sales of annual commercial Reports on European countries and on Colonies, and the decline in the case of the Dominions, while at the same time the sales in the case of Latin-America have made marked progress; and whether he will take special steps to encourage similar progress in the other three cases, in view of the need of further outlets for British trade?
§ Mr. HACKINGI am aware that sales of reports on European countries. Dominions and Colonies, in recent years have been somewhat less than in the highly critical period 1920–21. During the past five years, however, when comparatively speaking conditions have 12 been normal, the average sales have shown fairly steady improvement, whilst the sales of reports on Latin-American countries have shown progressive increase. I am taking all possible steps to make these publications better known to British exporting firms, and I will pay special attention to the groups of reports indicated by my Noble Friend.
§ 26. Viscount SANDONasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what Reports for Colonies, Protectorates, and Mandated Territories have been abandoned since their inception and why; and whether he will consider issuing such Reports for each Colonial group, such as British West Indies, West Africa, East Africa, East Indian group, Pacific, Mediterranean and Middle East, and Ceylon?
§ Mr. HACKINGNone of these Reports has been abandoned, though occasionally a Report is suspended when a Trade Commissioner post is vacant or the officer holding it is absent. Subject to such suspensions, Reports are regularly issued on the British West Indies, and East Africa, where Trade Commissioners are established. In the remaining areas mentioned I have no whole-time representative whom I can call upon to undertake this work.