asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he can state what is the precise purpose of the summary of cuttings issued to traders by the Empire Marketing Board; what is the cost of such circulation; and if he will consider whether such matter as extracts from speeches made by an anonymous member of the Northampton Junior Chamber of Commerce justifies the expenditure of their circulation?

I presume the hon. Member to refer to a periodical summary of Press notices relating to the work of the Empire Marketing Board. This summary is compiled for the use of members of the Board and its Committees. No issue is made to traders or any other section of the public. It would be difficult to estimate the exact cost, which in any case is inconsiderable.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that two or three associations of traders have asked me to raise this matter in Parliament? How, then, can it be correct to say that this has been circulated only to the Committees of the Board, seeing that associations of traders have approached me on the subject?

It is conceivable that associations of traders may have seen a copy, but it is intended solely for the use of the Committees and sub-Committees.