§ 1. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he will state what steps are being taken, in view of the importance of certain Dominion markets in the past to manufacturers in this country of locks, latches, keys, steel traps, and trunks, to see that their interests are properly represented at the Ottawa Conference?
The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for DOMINION AFFAIRS (Mr. Malcolm Mac Donald)I would refer to the reply given to the hon. Member for East Islington (Miss Cazalet) on the 3rd May. The Industrial Advisers there mentioned are in consultation with the various interests in this country and will advise the United Kingdom Delegation on all questions affecting United Kingdom industries. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be happy to consider in conjunction with the Industrial Advisers any representations that any particular industry may desire to submit.
§ Mr. MANDERCan the hon. Member give an assurance that these small trades of local importance are not going to be crowded out by the larger national industries?
Mr. MacDONALDIf they have any representations to make, they will be most carefully and fairly considered.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWill the pottery trade also be considered, as it stands to suffer?
§ Mr. CHARLES WILLIAMSAre we to conclude that both big and little industries are helped under these tariffs?
§ 2. Captain ARCHIBALD RAMSAYasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he is aware that the timber importers of this country had not been consulted up to last week by those who are to represent British timber importers at Ottawa; whether such consultations have taken place within the last few days; and, if not, will he take steps to see that this preliminary to the Ottawa Conference is completed at once?
Mr. M. MacDONALDAs was explained in the reply to the Noble Lord the Member for Horsham and Worthing (Earl Winterton) by my right hon. Friend on the 31st May, it is open to any trade which wishes to do so to lay its views before the Industrial Advisers who will accompany the United Kingdom Delegation to Ottawa, and I would suggest that the special interests referred to should get into touch with the Industrial Advisers as soon as possible.
§ 3. Captain PETER MACDONALDasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he can now arrange to publish the preliminary agenda for the Ottawa Conference; and, if not, what are the objections to such action?
Mr. M. MacDONALDIt has been agreed that the agenda shall not be published until its details have been settled as the result of consultation between the Governments concerned. This consultation is now proceeding.
§ Captain MACDONALDCan the hon. Member say when he will be able to publish or make known the agenda, in view of the forthcoming Debate on the Ottawa Conference?
§ Mr. MacDONALDIt is impossible to give any undertaking or to make any promise, but the consultations are fairly far advanced, and the agenda will be published at the earliest possible moment.
§ Captain MACDONALDI give notice that I will put this question before the Debate on the Ottawa Conference.
§ Mr. BUCHANANDoes the hon. Member not see the necessity for the agenda being published before the Debate takes place?
§ Mr. MacDONALDI appreciate that point; but it is also necessary that these consultations should be completed before any publication takes place.
§ Mr. BUCHANANIs it not the whole key of the Debate that the agenda ought to be known, because to a large extent the Debate will be abortive unless the agenda can be published?
§ Mr. MacDONALDThe House may rest assured that we shall bear the importance of that in mind, and do everything we can to get publication before the Debate takes place.