§ 6. Sir Patrick Hannonasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will inform the House on the progress of the trade commissions to certain overseas countries; whether the work of these bodies is actively operative; and when he expects to be able to give a report of the investigations which have been undertaken.
§ Mr. Harcourt Johnstone (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)There are no official trade missions at present visiting countries overseas. Representatives nominated by several Export Groups have gone to the United States and Canada with collections of samples. The market investigator sent by the Cotton Board to the Union of South Africa has submitted his report, and the samples secured have been exhibited in Manchester, while another investigator is visiting the Netherlands East Indies and Malaya on behalf of the Cotton Board. In addition, certain Export Groups have asked individual members visiting overseas markets to report generally for the benefit of their fellow members.