§ 76. Captain STRICKLANDasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether, in view of the recent substantial increase in British exports to Palestine, steps are being taken to provide the same encouragement for British firms to participate in the Levant Fair of 1936 at Tel-Aviv as was given when the fair was last held in 1934; and whether he has any information to show that the number of exhibitors on this occasion is likely to be greater.
§ 77. Mr. MORGANasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department how the assistance being given to British firms in connection with the forthcoming Levant Fair at Tel-Aviv, in the mandated territory 895 of Palestine, compares with the assistance recently given in a similar connection with regard to the fair at Brussels?
§ Captain EUAN WALLACE (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)The Department of Overseas Trade is most anxious to encourage participation by British firms in next year's fair at Tel-Aviv, and arrangements have already been made to instal an official information bureau, as in 1934, and to make suitable references to the fair in the Board of Trade Journal. I have no information at present as to whether the number of exhibitors in the fair of 1936 is likely to exceed the number in 1934. I should explain that the Brussels Exhibition held this year was a universal international exhibition of six months duration, whereas the Tel-Aviv Fair is a trade fair held biennially and for a period of one month. No comparison of the expenditure by the Department of Overseas Trade in these two cases would in these circumstances be of real value.
§ Captain STRICKLANDWould the hon. and gallant Gentleman be prepared to advise His Majesty's Government to make any special grant in order to encourage an increase of British exhibitors at this important fair?
§ Captain WALLACENo, Sir; not more than we are doing.