§ 14. Sir ROBERT THOMASasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will consider extending the functions of the Empire Marketing Board so as to enable it, in addition to its work of popularising Empire products in this country, to advertise British goods in the Dominions and Colonies?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI have been asked to reply to this question. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle, North (Sir N. Grattan-Doyle) on 14th November, in which it was explained that the advertisement of United Kingdom goods in the Dominions falls outside the purposes for which the present Empire Marketing Fund was provided. The question of enlarging that fund for the purpose contemplated by the hon. Member raises a matter of general policy which my right hon. Friend is not in a position to answer.
§ Mr. HARRISIn using English taxpayers' money are not the Government bound to look after the interests of the English taxpayer before even taxpayers in the Dominions?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREYes, and that is why the Empire Marketing Board includes within its purview advertising and research work and the giving of grants for research to British agriculture and agricultural produce quite as much as to Dominion or Colonial or protectorate or mandated territory produce; but the present marketing fund expressly excludes any manufactured goods, whether of Dominion or home origin.