Mr. B. Taylorasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is yet in a position to make any statement about the projected international exhibition in 1951.
§ Sir S. CrippsThe possibility of holding an International Exhibition in London in 1951 has been the subject of long and careful inquiry. I have, as a result, most reluctantly concluded that it would be impossible to stage such an exhibition in that year, involving large-scale demands on labour and material, without impeding the progress of urgent tasks of reconstruction. I am, however, convinced that this country would derive many advantages from such an exhibition and the proposal will be reviewed in a few years time, when242W the competing claims on our national resources can be more clearly seen.
The centenary of the Great Exhibition of 1851 should, however, be marked by some national display. Methods can, undoubtedly, be found involving relatively little new construction work outside the programme already in course of planning. These might include a cultural festival, as well as a design display on the lines of the recent "Britain Can Make It" exhibition. Statements on these matters will be-made in due course.
I have not overlooked the Ramsder Committee's recommendation that a permanent centre for the British Industries Fair should be erected as soon as practicable, but difficulties in regard to diversion of labour from an already crowded programme of urgent works are also involved. I am, however, having examined the possibility of making some advance towards the attainment of this objective as part of the recognition of the centenary of the 1851 Exhibition.