§ 2.38 p.m.
LORD INGLEWOODMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
58 The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why the Central Office of Information have undertaken responsibilty for the design and construction of the British Pavilion, including the detail of individual stands, at the horse show to be held at Essen from April 27 to May 1, 1972, when no comparable help was provided for the British Pavilion at the World Fair of Man and Nature—misleadingly called by the Hungarians, World Hunting Exhibition—which was held in Budapest from August 27 to September 30, 1971 (where there were equal commercial opportunities); and whether there is any change in the policy of Her Majesty's Government to foster contacts between Britain and the people of Eastern Europe.
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE)My Lords, eighteen British firms sought and received assistance from the Department of Trade and Industry for a group exhibit at the Essen horse show. There was insufficient interest by British firms in the Budapest event last year to make such an exhibit possible. However, as my noble friend is aware, a Government contribution was made to the British Wildlife Organising Committee, in view of the international importance of the Budapest event and in the interests of our relations with Hungary. There is no change in the policy of Her Majesty's Government to foster contacts between Britain and the people of Eastern Europe.
LORD INGLEWOODMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that reply, and also for the great help that the Foreign Office gave the Organising Committee last year, may I ask her whether she is aware that her Answer is not entirely complete? There was a commercial exhibit in the British Pavilion, and I have here the certificate recording that it happened, unknown, it seems, to the Department of Trade and Industry. Would she not agree that there is a case for looking into the policy of support for commercial fairs overseas, since at present the Department of Trade and Industry seems to divide them into black and white: if the Department approve there is unlimited money, but if they do not approve there it not only no help but in 59 this case actual difficulties were put in the way?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, it is of course a fact that many British firms take part in fairs and exhibitions in Eastern Europe. This is a matter of their own commercial judgment. But in the particular case of Budapest, the East European Trade Council, I understand, circulated some 2,000 companies and there was very little interest shown at the time that the decision had to be taken about a grant.
LORD INGLEWOODMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that further reply, which is perfectly true, and which is no good reflection on British industry, may I ask whether she is also aware that when a request was made to the Secretary of State for special help for the British Pavilion before the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh (who was going to be in Budapest at the same time) no reply was received by the Organising Committee until after the Duke's visit was over?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, I am sorry to hear that; and I should very much like to know to which Secretary of State a request was made.
§ THE EARL OF LAUDERDALEMy Lords, would not the noble Baroness agree that it would give a better balance to our European policy to show as great an interest in East Europe as in the West? Would she not look again at the whole business of leaving it to British firms to take the initiative when it might be that the British Government, with superior sources of information at their disposal, could give encouragement to such firms? A particular case in point is of course the Belgrade Underground, where we ought to be working hard now to get the contract to study and develop.
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, as this Question relates particularly to fairs and exhibitions, in 1971 British firms were assisted at 22 important exhibitions in Eastern Europe, and in 1972 we are expecting to give assistance at 27.
§ LORD BARNBYMy Lords, we must 60 all be grateful to the Minister for giving us information as to the intention of the Government with regard to assistance in this field. However, in view of the regrettable lack of support to the Budapest Exhibition last year, which was so great a success and was graced by the presence of Prince Philip, could my noble friend expand a little on how one can learn the intentions of the Government as to the fields and the manner in which it is hoped this assistance will be given?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, as I sought to explain to the House, there was very little commercial interest in the Budapest Exhibition apart from those firms who apparently felt, in their commercial judgment, that they should take part, and who did not in fact inquire for official assistance. As I have already said, so far as Eastern Europe is concerned, we are in fact increasing our help. In the case of the Budapest Exhibition this was for the purposes of transport and the mounting of the exhibits in question.
§ LORD BARNBYMy Lords, can the Minister give any indication of the character of the contribution which was made by the Government with regard to the Budapest Exhibition?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, it was £7,000 for the purposes that I have just mentioned.
§ LORD SEGALMy Lords, could not the Government do a little more to stimulate the further interest of British firms in Hungary so as not to leave the field too widely open to the activities of German firms?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, if I may say so, that is a very important point, and we shall certainly try to stimulate more interest.
§ THE EARL or DUNDEEMy Lords, on a point of information, was not the Russian contribution towards their pavilion at the Budapest Fair the sum of £250,000?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, I understand that it is not the practice to give specific amounts of what is contributed by this country, and certainly not by others.
§ THE EARL OF LAUDERDALEMy Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that, even though she has had a rather hard series of questions pressed on her, the whole House wishes her great success in her new office?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, I thank my noble friend very much.