§ 19. Mr. McENTEEasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he 8 is in a position to give the House any information as to the results of the British Industries Fair in London and Birmingham?
§ 20. Mr. SUTCLIFFEasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he can make any statement as to the results of the cotton textile section of the British Industries Fair?
§ Lieut.-Colonel J. COLVILLE (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)I am glad to state that the results of the British Industries Fair have been very satisfactory. Reports from all sections of the Fair indicate that the orders obtained by exhibitors for the home market were in excess of those resulting from the 1933 Fair. The volume of orders and enquiries secured from overseas markets is stated to be higher than at any previous Fair, a statement which is borne out by an increase of over 20 per cent. in the attendances of overseas buyers at the London section.
The attendances at the London section were:
and the total attendances at Birmingham were 124,507.
Overseas buyers … … 12,008 Home buyers … … 114,339 Public … … 34,536
§ Mr. McENTEECan the hon. and gallant Member say how the number of home buyers compared with that of last year?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEThe number of home buyers is slightly down in the London section, and in Birmingham they do not differentiate between home and overseas buyers. The grand total for all sections is slightly up.
§ Captain Sir WILLIAM BRASSCan the hon. and gallant Member give us any information about the cotton industry?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEThe textile section was very successful this year.