§ 23. Mr. S. Silvermanasked the President of the Board of Trade how many British firms exhibited British goods for sale in the Pavilion organised by the Federation of British Industries at the Leipzig Fair; how many British business firms were represented as potential purchasers; and what was the total value of business done by British firms at or in connection with the Fair, including purchases as well as sales.
§ Mr. ErrollI am informed by the Federation of British Industries that 47 British firms exhibited goods for sale inside the Pavilion and five in the outdoor area immediately adjacent. Thirty-five other British firms exhibited elsewhere in the Fair. I have no information about the number of British firms which sent buyers to the Fair, nor about how much business, whether sales or purchases, was done during the course of the Fair.
§ Mr. SilvermanWill the Minister say what steps he is taking to ascertain what was the volume of business, which many of us, were informed was very considerable? Does he not consider that it is a real triumph for the Federation of British Industries and for British industries generally to have been able to stage such a show and do a considerable volume of business with a country that does not even exist? Will he further consider whether their efforts might not now be assisted by giving them in Leipzig, at any rate for the period of some future fairs, some consular assistance?
§ Mr. ErrollIt is not usually possible to obtain for any fair the exact value of the orders booked during the period of the fair, nor should the value of the 1103 fair be assessed in terms of orders placed. As regards a consul for Leipzig, that, of course, would be quite out of the question since we do not recognise the East German régime.
§ Mr. SilvermanThe Government had better recognise it, then.