asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is in a position to make any statement with regard to the results of the British Industries Fair which closed last Friday?

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he can give the House any information as to the results of the British Industries Fair in London and Birmingham?

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Depart- ment (1) whether he can make a statement regarding the recent British Industries Fair; and whether the business transacted and the attendance compares favourably with that of a year ago;

(2) whether he can give the House any information regarding the textile section at the present British Industries Fair?

The British Industries Fair in London this year has proved to be one of the most satisfactory Fairs held to date. According to the estimates of the exhibitors, including those in the textiles section, the volume of orders placed and the number of serious inquiries far surpassed those at the Fair held in London last year. Many exhibitors have reported record business. The engineering and hardware section of the Fair was not, as hitherto, held simultaneously with the Fair in London, but is to take place at Birmingham in May next. Despite this fact the attendance of overseas buyers in London very nearly reached the attendance of overseas buyers at the Fair as a whole last year. The number of home buyers showed an increase of 18 per cent. There was also a marked increase in the attendance of the general public. The attendances were:

While congratulating my hon. and gallant Friend on these very satisfactory results, may I ask him whether he will not assure us that the Government will take every step possible to ensure that foreign quotas and restrictions do not prevent this achievement from reaching its full fruition?

That is constantly in the mind of His Majesty's Government.

Will my hon. and gallant Friend consider issuing separate figures for the textile section in future years?

The figures I have given include the textile section, and show the London section of the Fair as a whole.

Does not this excellent report show that it is better, in the interests of British manufacturers, to concentrate our money and attention upon the British Industries Fair, rather than devote money and trouble to exhibiting in overseas exhibitions?