§ 92. Mr. REMERasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department why Clause 2 (b) of the conditions for exhibitors at the British Industries Fair, providing that anything exhibited must be manufactured or produced mainly within the British Empire, was withdrawn by his Department on 4th December last; is he aware that the effect of this withdrawal is that German clocks and barometer movements can be placed in English-made cases and exhibited as specimens of British industry; and will he make a statement of the policy of his Department on this matter?
§ Mr. GILLETT (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)Clause 2 (b) of the General Regulations for exhibitors, which requires that all goods to be eligible must have been manufactured mainly within the British Empire, has not been withdrawn. A special restriction in that clause applicable only to watches and clocks was withdrawn in deference to representations of the trade associations concerned. In such matters it is the policy of the Department to give every consideration to such representations.
§ Mr. REMERIs the hon. Gentleman aware that most important manufacturers of clocks in this country withheld their exhibits from the British Industries Fair on the ground that this was not an exhibition of British clocks, but of foreign clocks?
§ Mr. GILLETTWe had a request from three associations representing the trades concerned to withdraw the restriction, and we acted on their request.