Colonel Lord HENRY CAVENDISH-. BENTINCKasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has considered the desirability of the appointment of representative commercial travellers on the Joint Committee for the furtherance of British trade overseas; and whether, having regard to the importance of the proper representation of our business interests overseas and the suitability of thoroughly qualified and trained commercial travellers for appointment to posts on the commercial side of the Diplomatic and Consular Service, he will consider the advisability of obtaining the co-operation of the Commercial Travellers' Association in making appointments to these posts?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI presume that the first part of this question refers to the Committee which it is proposed to set up to advise on the work of the Department of Overseas Trade. I have carefully considered the question of appointing a separate representative of commercial travellers on this Committee, but I regret that, in view of the necessary limitation of the number of the Committee, it is not possible to include a special representative of commercial travellers. I hope, however, that the membership of the Committee, which will include representatives of chambers of commerce, of industry and labour, will be such as to provide adequate consideration of the interests of commercial travellers. As regards any representations or suggestions which the Commercial Travellers' Association may wish to make in regard to appointments in the Commercial Attaché and Trade Commissioner Services, I shall be very glad to see that they are fully considered.