§ 49. Mr. J. Morganasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the reduced grant is endangering the quality of the British exhibit at the forth coming World Poultry Congress in the United States of America; and what steps 1803 does he intend to take to see that the British exhibit is worthy of this country at the present time?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithThe contribution promised by the Government towards the expenditure to be incurred by the poultry industry in preparing and staging the exhibit referred to is much higher than has been given for such an exhibit at any previous congress overseas, and was authorised only in view of certain exceptional circumstances including, of course, the higher cost of transport on this occasion. The effectiveness of the exhibit is the responsibility of the National Committee set up by the industry to prepare it, and I have no reason to suppose that the result will be that suggested by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. MorganIs not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the British Government accepted the invitation of the State Department in America to stage this exhibit and called upon two bodies in this country to do so on their behalf. As the fund is not sufficient at this moment to put the exhibit satisfactorily before the American public, what does he intend to do?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithI do not entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman.
§ Mr. MorganIf I represent to the right hon. and gallant Gentleman that I have received representations from the authorities concerned this morning that they are not adequately provided for this purpose, what does he intend to do?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithI shall be very glad to hear the hon. Gentleman's representations.