§ 7. Mr. RANKINasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he can now make any further statements with regard to the winding-up of the Marketing Board and the extent to which its activities will be continued in other ways?
The SECRETARY of STATE for DOMINION AFFAIRS (Mr. J. H. Thomas)In accordance with the recommendations of the Imperial Committee on Economic Consultation and Co-operation which reported in 1933, certain of the economic and statistical services previously carried on by the Empire Marketing Board, namely, (1) periodical market intelligence notes and (2) world surveys of production and trade, are being conducted on a co-operative basis as part of the work of the Imperial Economic Committee. As regards the research schemes financed from the Empire Marketing Fund, the position was explained in the reply given on the 15th March to the hon. and gallant Member for Hitchin (Sir A. Wilson) of which I am sending a copy to the hon. Member. Of the remaining activities of the Empire Marketing Board, the Film Unit and the Film Library have been taken over by the General Post Office for an experimental period.
§ Mr. HANNONIs it not a fact that most of the activities of the Empire Marketing Board, which were so important 125 to this country and the Dominions, are now being carried on by other Departments?
Mr. THOMASYes. That was in consequence of a number of the Dominions being unable to see eye to eye with us on the question of continuing the work of the Empire Marketing Board.