British Manufacturers (Investment)

HC Deb 27 March 1958 vol 585 cc582-3

38. Mr. B. Harrison

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will publish a book giving details of the prospects for British manufacturers to invest in the Commonwealth of Australia.

Mr. Alport

Responsibility for the issue of a publication of this sort would properly belong to the Australian authorities rather than to the Government of the United Kingdom. My hon. Friend is no doubt aware of the energetic efforts being made by both Commonwealth and State Governments in this field. Factual information about business conditions in Australia is, however, always available at the Board of Trade for British manufacturers who seek it.

Mr. Harrison

Does my hon. Friend not think it is completely wrong that the American Department of Commerce can issue a book about investing in Australia—and a very good book, too—while his Department is not prepared to do so? Will not he consider this matter again? Although we welcome dollar investment in Australia, we want as much sterling investment as possible to go there from this country.

Mr. Alport

I fully agree with my hon. Friend that we want United Kingdom investment in Australia. It is for this reason that we shall particularly welcome the representatives of the Queensland Promotion Delegation, which will shortly visit this country with the object of giving the point of view of their State with regard to future investment there. We have had similar opportunities of welcoming delegations from other States in the past. This appears to us to be the best way of ensuring that full knowledge of the facilities available exists in this country.

Major Legge-Bourke

Does my hon. Friend agree that the Agents-General of the individual States in Australia have adequate literature in their London offices which is always available should anyone so require it?

Mr. Alport

My hon. and gallant Friend is quite right. It would be difficult for us to judge between the rival merits of the investment facilities available in different parts of the Commonwealth. I would point out that, since the war, two-thirds of the investment in Australia has been made by the United Kingdom.