§ 32. Mr. DAYasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs which Depart- 217 ments or committees are performing the functions which were carried out by the Empire Marketing Board previous to 31st December, 1933; and what is the annual cost of same?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for DOMINION AFFAIRS (Mr. Malcolm MacDonald)Many of the research services previously financed from the Empire Marketing Fund are being carried on by individual Governments in the Empire. A few agricultural research activities are being financed on a co-operative basis by the several Governments of the Empire through the Executive Council of the Imperial Agricultural Bureaux. Certain of the economic and statistical services which used to be provided from the Empire Marketing Fund are now being carried on by the Imperial Economic Committee on the same financial principle. The board's film library was taken over by the General Post Office. The United Kingdom contribution in respect of services co-operatively financed appears on the Vote for Dominion Services. It amounts to £15,675 for the current financial year and £15,423 for the coming financial year.
§ Mr. DAYCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether that includes hospitality and entertaining expenses?
§ Mr. MacDONALDI do not think that it does. If the hon. Member will put down a specific question I will answer it.
§ Mr. MacDONALDA good deal of the expense is defrayed by the Dominion and Empire Governments oversea as well as by the Government of this country.
§ Mr. BOOTHBYIs the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that it was a good thing, in fact, to abolish the Empire Marketing Board?
§ Mr. MacDONALDIn the circumstances, and taking into account that, at any rate, some of the Dominion Governments did not want to carry it on, the only thing that could be done was to bring it to an end.