§ Mr. HOUSTONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he will describe the existing practice by which in formation concerning British commerce, trade, and shipping, transmitted from British Ministers abroad or Consuls, is received and distributed in this country; whether the same is sent in the first instance to the Foreign Office or to the Board of Trade Department; whether. he will consider the advisability of British Ministers and Consuls communicating direct with the Board of Trade Department in connection with these matters; whether, in view of the competition by Germany and America with Great Britain in our foreign markets, he will give instructions to British Ministers and Consuls to take a keener interest in these matters; and whether he can state if German and American Ministers and Consuls abroad communicate with the Foreign Secretary of their respective Governments or with the Minister occupying a similar position to that of our President of the Board of Trade?
§ Sir E. GREYHis Majesty's Consular officers communicate directly with the Commercial Intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade with regard to questions addressed to them by the branch, and furnish the branch with information as to contracts open to tender (by telegram, where that course appears desirable), and also as to classified lists of the principal dealers in various kinds of goods within their Consular districts. Answers to questions addressed to Consular officers by British firms are transmitted through the Commercial Intelligence Branch. The Consular officers also communicate directly with the Marine Department of the Board of Trade on matters arising out of the Merchant Shipping Acts. In all other cases His Majesty's Consular officers report to the Secretary of State, as do His Majesty's Ministers abroad in all cases. Copies of these reports, so far as they relate to subjects dealt with by the Board of Trade, are forwarded immediately to that Department. The information so received by the Board of Trade, when likely to be of interest to British merchants, manufacturers, or shipowners, is either published in the weekly "Board of Trade Journal" or communicated to firms on the Special Register of the Commercial Intelligence Branch, or sent to chambers of commerce and other interested bodies. Samples of materials for industry or of goods com-866W peting with British products, supplied by Consular officers from time to time, are displayed at the offices of the Commercial Intelligence Branch. The Annual Reports of His Majesty's Consular officers are edited by the Foreign Office and the Board of Trade jointly, and the Board consult with the Secretary of State, as occasion requires, respecting any changes which may seem desirable in the Consular instructions, so far as they relate to commerce and navigation. Newly-appointed Consular officers are required to spend some time at the Commercial Intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade before taking up their appointments, with a view to their becoming acquainted with the general nature of the requirements of British traders in the matter of the supply of commercial information. German Diplomatic and Consular officers report on matters relating to trade and shipping direct to the Commercial Department of the Imperial Foreign Office, and receive their instructions from the same source.