§ 77. Mr. CROSSLEYasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he can state how the foreign orders for British cotton textiles at the White City section of the British Industries Fair compared with the figures for last year?
§ Major COLVILLE (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)It has never been possible to obtain definite figures of the amount of foreign orders placed at the White City or Olympia. I am satisfied, however, from the inquiries I have made, that the orders placed by overseas buyers with exhibitors in the textile section are greatly in excess of those placed at the 1931 Fair, and may even represent an increase of as much as 100 per cent.
§ 78. Mr. CROSSLEYasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the number of foreign trade buyers who attended the textiles, White City, section of the British Industries Fair; and whether this constituted an increase or a decrease on last year's figures?
§ Major COLVILLE3,839 overseas buyers attended the textile section of the British Industries Fair at the White City this year, as compared with 1,503 in 1931, an increase of more than two and a half times.
§ 79. Mr. CROSSLEYasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department from what countries, not previously importing British cotton textiles in large quantities, any substantial orders were received at the textiles, White City, section of the British Industries Fair?
§ Major COLVILLEI am informed that a substantial volume of business was transacted in cotton textile goods at the British Industries Fair with the Netherlands and Scandinavian countries. These are countries which in previous years have not occupied a very high position in the list of buyers of British cotton textiles.
§ Mr. BOOTHBYDoes not the answer prove the success which has already attended the Protectionist policy adopted by the Government?
§ Mr. LAWSONDoes the hon. Gentleman think that Scandinavia and Holland are going to keep their high place in the purchase of British coal?
§ Major COLVILLEI think it is very likely that they will do so.
§ 81. Mr. PIKEasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is aware that the exhibitors at the British Industries Fair include firms which are mainly American owned and American controlled; and whether he will define the terms British industry and British firm for the purposes of the Buy British campaign, the British Industries Fair and the Ottawa Conference?
§ Major COLVILLESo far as concerns the British Industries Fair, all goods to be eligible for display must have been manufactured or produced mainly within the British Empire, and, provided the Department of Overseas Trade is satisfied that this condition is complied with, the question of foreign ownership or control does not arise. There is no special definition applicable to a campaign such as the "Buy British," which, though officially launched, can only be regarded as a patriotic appeal in the widest sense. As regards the Ottawa Conference, it must obviously be left to the Conference itself to frame any definition of the kind in question.
§ Mr. PIKEIs my hon. Friend aware that at the British Industries Fair there were exhibits by firms which are largely American in origin, and in future industries fairs would he be prepared to provide a new definition of the term "British"?
§ Major COLVILLEI shall be glad to go into any question which my hon. Friend raises. The Department of Overseas Trade has been very careful in choosing the test of British Empire origin which they apply.