DEPARTMENT OF OVERSEAS TRADE. (Hansard, 20 February 1930)

§ Mr. GILLETT (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)

This Supplementary Estimate is divided under five headings, while the Overseas Service is divided under three headings. I need hardly remind those hon. Members who have been in this House for any length of time that the Consular Service does a good deal of the commercial work particularly in centres where we have no special representatives. Although the Consular Service is not under my Department's vote, I would remind the Committee that both my Department and the Consular Service are associated with the Foreign Office. So far as we are concerned, we only have to deal with the full-time officers whose services are given entirely to trade problems overseas for this country. In that connection, confusion has sometimes arisen owing to the different terms which are used in connection with these officers. We have the Commercial Diplomatic Service with commercial secretaries connected with the Embassies and Legations overseas whilst, on the other hand, we have the Trade Commissioner Service, which is entirely confined to those who represent this country in our Dominions and Colonies. If hon. Members keep that clearly in their minds, they will see that it is a question of the country to which a person is accredited that gives him the title under which he serves.

1734 Accordingly, the first of the different items concerns the Commercial Diplomatic Service. It is a very simple one and deals with the fact that, when there was a resumption of relations with Russia and an Ambassador had been appointed to Moscow, the question came up as to whether there should also be a commercial secretary appointed as at the time when the relations with that country were broken off. It was decided to appoint two as two had previously been connected with the Mission in that country. The sum of £1,525 is involved, and the note on page 15 explains how that amount is being expended for the quarter of the year that remains after these officers have arrived in that country. There has been in the Department a saving of £700 on other items, and that has been deducted from the £1,525, leaving a sum of £825 which is required for the Russian service. The reason why we decided to have these commercial representatives in Russia was firstly because some of the business interests in this country asked to have them appointed, and secondly, because there are very considerable financial interests in Russia at the present time connected with this country. It is a distinct advantage to have men on the spot who can give us information as to what is passing in that great and mysterious country.

The second item deals with the Trade Commissioner Service. Since the Labour Government attained office, it was felt that an extension overseas of our service was urgent and two centres, one at Sydney and one at Singapore, felt especially the need for further representation. We have already one representative at Sydney, and it was felt that, if a junior trade commissioner was employed there, it would leave the senior trade commissioner free to devote a good deal of his time to travelling in other parts of Australia. We decided to appoint this representative partly by reason of the fact that the British Economic Mission which visited that country had recommended the strengthening of our service there. In the case of Singapore, we felt that Malaya was a country of very considerable trade interests. British Malaya imports to the extent of £100,000,000 a year and our proportion is only £16,000,000. We felt 1735 that much of that trade could be developed in future to British advantage.

We then turn to the question of how far we might strengthen the overseas staff in some of the subordinate offices. We felt it exceedingly important that more chief clerks should be appointed under our trade commissioners, so that, when the trade commissioner was away either on account of leave or on account of business, there should be an efficient substitute to carry on the work in his absence. Accordingly two new chief clerks were appointed, one in Singapore and the other in Johannesburg. Those are the chief items in connection with Trade Commissioner Service involving a sum of £2,625. Then there is a reduction of £850 due to estimated saving. The next item is simply connected with the expenditure involved in opening new offices in Singapore, and £500 has been allocated for that purpose. The next item deals with the question of travelling. The sum of £350 may be divided into two figures. The first figure is £250. We have decided to send, in fact he is already on his way, a representative of the Department to visit British West Africa, and the chief clerk in one of our centres in South Africa has been sent on that mission. It is estimated to cost £250. The other £100 is allocated for travelling in the Singapore area.

Of the other items, one of £245, represents the travelling expenses of the new trade commissioners to their new centres, and £1,155 represents not only the cost of the two chief clerks going out from this country to their new posts but also the fact that as one of the new trade commissioners was recently promoted from chief clerk the appointment of a new chief clerk had to be made, and the cost of his travelling expenses from England to Australia is included in the item of £1,155. The concluding item deals with the Economic Mission to South America. The principle of this Mission has been recognised in all parts of the House, and the arrangements were really made by the right hon. Member who preceded me in this office. Of the desirability of the mission there is no doubt whatever. The hour is late and I will not go into the other financial items, but if hon. Members wish to have further particulars I shall be only too pleased to give them 1736 when the Debate is resumed. In regard to the Mission, their Report has been presented to the Government and it is expected that publication will take place in a few days' time.