§ 30. Mr. McENTEEasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he can give the House any information as to the results of the British Industries Fair in London and Birmingham; the number of visitors to each section; and the approximate volume of orders placed, together with figures of particular industries represented?
§ Mr. JOHN COLVILLE (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)I am glad to be able to state that the results have been uniformly satisfactory. In many sections business is reported to have been secured on a scale much in excess of that at any previous fair. The attendances by trade visitors to the London section were as follow:
| Overseas buyers | 10,066 |
| Home buyers | 278,828 |
§ Of these no less than 3.639 overseas buyers and 104,549 home buyers visited the new textile section.
§ The total attendance of the general public in London was 39,442, of whom 5,691 visited the White City. The total attendance at the Birmingham section was 144,389.
13§ As regards the last part of the question I would refer the hon. Member to die reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Oldham (Mr. Crossley) on the 10th March.
§ 31. Captain P. MACDONALDasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he can state the number of foreign waiters who were engaged to participate in the restaurants connected with the recent British Industries Fairs at the White City, Olympia, and Birmingham, respectively; and whether he will consider the advisability of making it a condition for future catering contracts for these fairs that all the waiters shall be British?
§ Mr. COLVILLEI am informed that so far as the London section of the British Industries Fair is concerned, no foreign waiters were employed in the restaurants at the White City nor at Olympia, though two foreigners were acting at Olympia in a supervisory capacity in the two principal restaurants. In regard to the Birmingham section, I am informed that no foreign waiters were engaged. In answer to the second part of the question, it is the policy of the Department of Overseas Trade in entering into any contract to emphasise the necessity for the largest possible proportion of employment of British material and personnel. In so far as catering arrangements come under the control of the Department, this policy is carried out.