§ 3.22 p.m.
§ LORD ALPORTMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what action has been taken to encourage British firms to participate in the Bulawayo Fair.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, BOARD OF TRADE (LORD DRUMALBYN)My Lords, the Board of Trade does not press firms to participate in any particular fair. Decisions on when and where to exhibit are left to industry, who are aware of the facilities and assistance which the Board of Trade can provide in appropriate circumstances.
§ LORD ALPORTMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether it is the policy of his Department to encourage British firms to take part in fairs for the promotion of British trade in areas where the market is of importance to British trade?
§ LORD DRUMALBYNMy Lords, where there is a fair prospect of exhibiting rendering good results in terms of trade, and where the Trade Commissioner so recommends, then it is possible for the Board of Trade to approach the representative body, such as the Cotton Board, which did exhibit last year, in order to arrange for an exhibition of a prestige character in the pavilion which has been set up by the Commonwealth Relations Office over there since 1960. There will be another such pavilion this year.