§ 3. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs the amount spent by the Empire Marketing Board during each of the past thre years, and the estimated amount for this year in advertising in this country the goods of Australia and India, respectively?
Mr. THOMASNo specific allocation has been made in the past or for the current year in the Empire Marketing Board's publicity expenditure for the advertising of the products of any individual Empire country. The Board's policy is to create a general demand for Empire produce, urging the purchase first of the produce of the home country and then of the produce of the Empire overseas. It is accordingly not possible to apportion the Board's publicity expenditure on any territorial basis.
§ Mr. MANDERWill the right hon. Gentleman approach those two countries with a view to obtaining a little more reciprocity in the purchase of British goods?
Mr. THOMASThat is a new form of request. Hitherto I understood that the policy was that self-governing Dominions, like Australia, were entitled to have regard to their own position. As far as India is concerned, her position has been explained. I also said that nothing that India does will prevent us from doing the best that we can for India.
§ Mr. MANDERWould not the right hon. Gentleman's well-known persuasive powers be helpful in this matter?
4. Sir NICHOLAS G RATTAN-DOYLEasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will make proposals for setting up a commission of inquiry for Empire economic union on the same lines as the commission of inquiry for European union?
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that Empire economic unity will be a very good thing for this country?
Mr. THOMASI think that anything that tends to develop the Empire will be a good thing, but there are so many sins committed in the guise of general talks about the Empire that I should not like to commit myself to any general phrase.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that it will be a useful occupation—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat appears to be a matter of opinion.