§ Sir E. CORNWALLasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is considering the advisability of increasing the number of Trade Commissioners throughout the Allied and neutral countries and the British Empire; what is the number of Trade Commissioners at the present time; and how many Commissioners and Sub-Commissioners will be necessary to efficiently promote and safeguard British commerce throughout the world?
Mr. RUNCIMANThe whole question of the improvement of our existing machinery for the collection of commercial intelligence and for promoting British trade overseas is now under consideration by His Majesty's Government, and I hope to be able to make an announcement on the subject shortly. At the present time Trade Commissioners are confined to the self-governing Dominions. They are four in number stationed in Canada, Newfoundland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa respectively. My hon. Friend will understand that I am not yet in a position to reply to the last part of his question.