HC Deb 06 May 1929 vol 227 cc1939-40
16. Colonel WOODCOCK

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he will state what grants have been made for the assistance of schemes in connection with the geophysical survey of metalliferous areas in Australia and the Great Barrier Reef Expedition; and why in view of the terms under which Parliament has voted money to the Empire Marketing Fund, these grants have been made?

Mr. AMERY

A grant not exceeding £16,000, matched by a like amount from His Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth of Australia, has been made available from the Empire Marketing Fund for a comparative trial of geophysical methods of survey in Australia. A grant of £2,500 was made from the Empire Marketing Fund towards the cost of the Great Barrier Beef Expedition, like sums being provided by His Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth of Australia and by scientific bodies in Great Britain. These grants were made on the express recommendation of special Sub-Committees of the Cabinet Committee of Civil Research. As regards the first of these grants, I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on the 10th of November, 1927, in reply to a question addressed to him by my hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn (Sir S. Henn) when he said that he was entirely satisfied that the first contribution in question was both within the scope of the Empire Marketing Fund, as defined in the Estimate, and in accordance with the general indication which he gave to the House in December, 1924, of the proposed uses of the grant. This is, in my opinion, no less true of the second contribution.

Colonel WOODCOCK

Has anything tangible come out of this scheme which would benefit the Empire Marketing Board?

Mr. AMERY

I hardly imagine that my hon. and gallant Friend considers that the research which is now in progress on fundamental questions, such as those being dealt with there, will produce any direct results, but I believe that, as regards the geophysical inquiry, very helpful indications have been found.

Mr. J. H. THOMAS

May we take it that the Empire Marketing Board makes grants, not to benefit themselves, but to benefit the Empire, as distinct from the Marketing Board? The hon. and gallant Member's supplementary question referred to a benefit to the Marketing Board.

Mr. AMERY

Quite so. Of course, it is Empire Marketing—the marketing of Empire produce in this country—and not the Board, as such, which benefits.