§ 73. Dr. HOWITTasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether, in view of the satisfactory state of the country's finances, he will allocate a sum towards the re-establishment of the Empire Marketing Board?
The SECRETARY of STATE for DOMINION AFFAIRS (Mr. J. H. Thomas)The question of continuing the Empire Marketing Board, as such, was not decided with reference to financial considerations. Its termination resulted from the acceptance by the Governments concerned of the recommendations in the Report of the Imperial Committee on Economic Consultation and Co-operation which met last year. His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have always favoured the continuance of the board, and would welcome its re-establishment if it were supported by the Dominions generally. As I explained, in reply to the hon. Member for Kirk-dale (Mr. Rankin), on the 1st May, a number of the services previously performed by the board are still being carried out.