§ 18. Sir PERCY HARRISasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he can now state the total number of the delegation going from Great Britain to Ottawa, including officials, trade representatives, secretaries, typists, etc.; and what will be the estimated total cost?
Mr. THOMASI am not yet in a position to state the total number of the United Kingdom delegation to the Ottawa Conference. The sum of £12,000 is provided on the Dominion Services Estimate for 1932 for the expenses of the delegation.
§ Mr. HANNONWill the right hon. Gentleman take care that, in view of the importance of this Conference, the question of cost will not stand in the way?
§ Sir P. HARRISWill not £12,000 cover a lot of hotel bills, railway fares and steamship fares?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is a matter of opinion.
§ 20. Mr. ALED ROBERTSasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether the Government will consider the appointment of a representative of the corn and grain trades to accompany the delegation to Ottawa, in view of the effect upon the grain market prices of any Dominion wheat quota or similar arrangement which may be discussed?
Mr. THOMASThere can be no question of adding to the industrial advisers officially accompanying the United Kingdom delegation. I have, however, received representations from the milling and grain importing interests in regard to the representation of their views at Ottawa, and I am in communication with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture with regard to them.
§ Mr. ROBERTSDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think the best expert advice possible should attend with the delegation?
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIn the event of the whole of the Ottawa Conference falling flat, what are the Government going to do?
22. Captain RAMSAYasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether, in view of the concern in Canada over the fact that their market for timber in this country is jeopardised by our present policy of allowing unlimited entry to timber produced in Russia, he is prepared to open this question to discussion at the Ottawa Conference?
Mr. THOMASAs I have already explained to the House in reply to earlier questions, His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom would certainly not wish to exclude beforehand any proposal which any Dominion or other Govern- 1709 ment may desire to bring forward for consideration at the Ottawa Conference. But, as I have also explained, final decision on the part of any Government must be subject to any general considerations involved in the domestic policy of that Government.
§ Sir P. HARRISIs not the Russian Government now buying Canadian wheat?