§ Viscount SANDONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if any units of the British Empire, including those not under Colonial Office control, are still proposing not to be represented at the coming British Empire Exhibition; if so, which they are; and whether he is making any effort to get this state of affairs remedied?
§ Lieut.-Colonel BUCKLEYThe only units of the Empire who have declared their intention not to be represented at the British Empire Exhibition are: the Irish Free State, British North Borneo, Gibraltar and Ascension. All the other units of the Empire either have definitely decided to participate, or still have the question under consideration. I understand that the decision of the Irish Free State is due to the urgent need for economy and to the difficulty of making adequate preparations in existing conditions. British North Borneo has also had to decline on the ground of the expenditure involved. In the circumstances, I do not think that any action on my part is required.