§ 1. Captain CUNNINGHAM-REIDasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he can say when the report of the committee recommended by the Ottawa Conference to consider the future of the Empire Marketing Board may be expected?
The SECRETARY of STATE for DOMINION AFFAIRS (Mr. J. H. Thomas)In setting up the Committee on Economic Consultation and Co-operation, to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, the Ottawa Conference recommended that the report should be available not later than the 31st May. In subsequent correspondence between the several Governments represented on the Committee it was suggested that it would be advantageous if the report were available by the 31st March, and I understand that the Committee are using their best endeavours to have their report ready by, or soon after, the last-mentioned date.
§ 2. Captain CUNNINGHAM-REIDasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he will request the Committee recommended by the Ottawa Conference to consider the future of the Empire Marketing Board to take into account and report on the advisability of changing the direction of the Board's activities to the promotion of the sale of this country's products in the Dominions?
Mr. THOMASThe terms of reference of the Committee to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers were laid down at the Ottawa Conference, and include a survey of the functions and organisation of the Empire Marketing Board. I may 172 add, however, that in accordance with the recommendation adopted by the Imperial Economic Conference of 1930, the scope of the Empire Marketing Board Vote is no longer limited to the promotion of the marketing of Empire goods in the United Kingdom.