§ Mr. GOULDasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether, in view of statements appearing in the Press relative to the British Empire Exhibition and its management, he will state the amount guaranteed by the Government; the total guaranteed by the guarantors; the total receipts or revenue that were estimated to come from the exhibition to meet its expenditure; the total of the expenditure that was estimated to arise; the number of visitors expected and the charge, per head, included in the estimated receipts; the approximate amount of expenditure to date; and the estimated amount required to complete the exhibition for its opening; has a further and recent appeal, by letter, been made for additional guarantors, and to what total is it asked to raise the guarantee fund; under whose control is the general manager and to whom is he accountable; can he be removed for incompetence, negligence, neglect of duty, or extravagant management; in whom is vested the power to remove him; is it intended to hold any inquiry into the affairs of the exhibition, its present position, and management; and, if so, will it be a private inquiry undertaken by business and expert persons, distinct from any departmental inquiry?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSAs I informed the hon. and gallant Member for Basingstoke (Sir A. Holbrook) on Tuesday, I am now in consultation with my Noble Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies and my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade as to the present position of the British Empire Exhibition, and the position of His Majesty's Government in relation thereto. I hope to be in a position to make a general statement at an early910W date, and in these circumstances I should be obliged if my hon. Friend would be good enough to postpone his question.
§ Mr. GOULDasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he is aware that the management of the exhibition is using on their correspondence paper, as a member of the executive council, the name of a gentleman who some time ago resigned and requested his name to be withdrawn; and will he have inquiries made into the matter?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSIf my hon. Friend will be good enough to give me the name of the gentleman in question, I shall be glad to have inquiries made, and will let him know the result.