44. Sir N. STEWART SANDEMANasked the Minister of Agriculture whether the van which is touring the country in a campaign for the purchase of British goods and to encourage the use of the national mark as a means of identifying British products is made by a British firm?
§ Sir J. GILMOURTwo cinema vans have been hired for a three-months experimental tour in each case through certain northern and southern counties of England respectively. With the exception in one case of a small portion of the projection apparatus, both vans, with all equipment, were manufactured in this country.
Sir N. STEWART SANDEMANIs my right hon. Friend aware that it is being advertised in certain papers that the Western Electric Company, which is an American firm, is sending Government talkies to boost national marks?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe Western Electric Company is an English company. It may be controlled by certain interests in the United States, but it is an English company. The fact remains that, as I have said, with the exception of one very small portion of the apparatus, the whole thing is British.
Sir N. STEWART SANDEMANIs not my right hon. Friend aware that he can get one that is totally British, with capital, directors, and everything in this country?