§ Mr. Hoggasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what is the nature of the standing instructions given to commercial diplomatic officers as to the assistance to be made available to United Kingdom exporters; and what changes of policy affecting their work have taken place during 1944.
§ Mr. JohnstoneIn broad outline the general instrluctions to commercial diplomatic officers, which are too long to quote in detail, require them to afford the fullest possible assistance to United Kingdom exporters and export trade. Commercial diplomatic officers serve as members of H.M. Missions in foreign countries and act as advisers to the Head of the Mission on the broader issues of trade and industry; they also supervise and co-ordinate the commercial work of H.M. Consular Officers stationed within their territory. Commercial Diplomatic Officers are required as part of their day-to-day activities to supply information upon all commercial questions that may affect 2557W United Kingdom export trade and about specific opportunities for export, including important calls for tender; to provide suitable names of agents and importers; to report tariff changes, commercial legislation and such matters as the effects of foreign competition and the development and organisation of local industries; to compile economic reports for publication and to furnish information specifically sought by export organisations or individual exporters; to give advice and, where needed, introductions to United Kingdom traders visiting their countries and to assist to the best of their ability any Government-sponsored mission visiting their territory; to undertake local publicity and other work in connection with the British Industries Fair and other Fairs and Exhibitions in which His Majesty's Government may take part. On the occasion of his return to the United Kingdom a senior Commercial Diplomatic Officer has to be prepared to visit provincial centres to advise export organisations and firms on problems affecting trade with the country in which he is stationed. No change of policy affecting the work of these officers has taken place during 1944, but the reduction of their special war-time activities (chiefly on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Warfare) now enable them to devote fuller attention to matters concerning United Kingdom export trade than has been possible during most of the war years.
Instructions issued from Headquarters have directed the attention of commercial diplomatic officers to the particular market research and commercial intelligence work which may be expected to be most useful to United Kingdom export traders in the conditions likely to obtain after the cessation of hostilities. Though the Question refers to commercial diplomatic officers only, I should explain that H.M. Trade Commissioners, who are stationed in certain Empire countries, perform within the Empire duties very similar to those of commercial diplomatic officers in foreign countries.