§ 26. Mr. KELLYasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he will indicate the terms of the contract entered into between his Department and Exhibition Organisers, Limited, which involves the payment to Exhibition Organisers, Limited, of a commission in respect of certain work in connection with the organisation of the textile section of the British Industries Fair; and whether his Department retains the right to allocate space to, and collect rents from, exhibitors?
§ Mr. GILLETT (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)The contract between the Department of Overseas Trade and Messrs. Exhibition Organisers, Limited, is to the effect that the company 873 in question undertakes the responsibility for the sale of space to exhibitors in the textile section of the fair in return for an agreed discount on the charge for space. The company has also been entrusted with the erection of stands and decorations, and as the charges to exhibitors will be inclusive of space and stands, the collection of accounts will naturally be in their hands also. As exhibitors in the textile section will have the same right to select their sites from the plan, as in the past, the question of allocation does not arise.
§ Mr. KELLYWould my hon. Friend say why his Department has not retained this in its own hands instead of allowing it to be managed by a private company?
§ Mr. GILLETTI would remind my hon. Friend that it is not a question of retaining it, because the exhibition at the White City was mainly organised on independent lines and was managed by Exhibition Organisers, Limited. It was at the request of the textile industry and the artificial silk industry that we agreed to the exhibition next year being organised by Organisers, Limited, under the control of the Department of Overseas Trade.
§ Mr. KELLYWas any attempt made by the Department to take the control rather than even to carry out a method similar to that adopted at the White City?
§ Mr. GILLETTThe matter was considered when the negotiations for those two industries to link up with the Industries Fair were being carried on.
§ Mr. ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUELWhat does the hon. Gentleman mean by "organised on independent lines in the past"?
§ Mr. GILLETTLast year the management of the textile section was practically independent.
§ Mr. W. J. BROWNIs it not the case that the area now handed over to private enterprise is distinctly wider than the area which was given 60 private enterprise last time, and is it not the case that protests are forthcoming from textile manufacturers themselves about it?
§ Mr. GILLETTAs I have already explained, there is no question of handing over.