§ Mr. DAYasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he has any statistics that will show the amount of business done at the British Industries Fairs held at the White City and Birmingham; and can he give the number of people who paid for admission at both these fairs and the approximate number of buyers?
§ Mr. HACKINGIt is not possible to give statistics of business done, since exhibitors naturally do not disclose their business. Further, I would point out that the results of a fair do not end with the closing of its doors, as inquiries and sample orders may be as valuable, or in the long run more valuable, than the orders actually booked at the time. I am glad to be able to state, however, from reports which have been received from exhibitors, that the results of the British Industries Fair, both at London at Birmingham, have been most satisfactory. At the London Fair the number of buyers was 103,586, and the public who paid for admission were 28,484, although the hours during which the public were admitted were severely limited. In Birmingham the total number of buyers was, I am informed, 103,000, and the number of public 14,000.