§ 50. Mr. YERBURGHasked the Prime Minister whether the Imperial Defence Committee have arrived at any decision upon the question of food supply in time of war?
§ 58. Mr. PETOalso asked the Prime Minister whether he can make any announcement as to the steps to be taken to give effect to the recommendations of the Commission on the supply of food and raw materials in time of war?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Committee of Imperial Defence has considered various aspects of the question of food supply in war. Certain conclusions have been arrived at as to some of these. Others are still under investigation. As regards the general question of the recommendations of the Royal Commission I can add nothing to the answer which I gave on 11th April last to the hon. and gallant Member for the Melton Division.
§ Colonel YATEHas any consideration been given to the question of erecting grain elevators at the various ports?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, Sir. That is one of the subjects that is being considered.
§ Mr. RONALD M'NEILLWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether the recommendations which have been received will be communicated to the House?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI would rather not pledge myself definitely as to that, because these are confidential matters, but I will give them so far as it is in the public interest.
§ Mr. PETOIs it proposed to take any steps with reference to legislation during the present Session?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not think so, but I would not like to pledge myself definitely.
§ 51. Mr. NORTON-GRIFFITHSasked whether all the British Dominions are now represented on the Imperial Committee of Defence; if not, how many are so represented?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNone of the Dominions are at present permanently represented on the Committee of Imperial Defence, but advantage has frequently been taken of the visits to this country of responsible representatives of the Dominions to invite them to attend meetings of the Committee. All the Dominions have at one time or another been represented in this way, the most recent example being the case of Colonel Allen, Minister of Defence for New Zealand, who attended the last meeting of the Committee.
§ Mr. NORTON-GRIFFITHSIs there any intention on the part of the Government to ask them to send any such representatives?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have repeatedly said that proposals have been made in this matter. The hon. Member will find it set out in the dispatch of the Secretary of State for the Colonies of 10th December last.
§ Mr. PAGES CROFTIs it not a fact that a definite invitation was extended to the Dominion of Canada, and may I ask whether such invitations will also be ex- 1636 tended to Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThey have been. If the hon. Member would read the dispatch he would see it extends to all the Dominions.
§ Mr. PAGE CROFTWas there any reply?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes: there was a reply from South Africa.
§ 54. Mr. NORTON-GRIFFITHSasked the Prime Minister, in view of the fact that the Canadian Government have been invited to nominate a representative who shall have a seat on the Committee of Imperial Defence, whether he is prepared to provide means that they may also have proper representation in decisions upon questions of foreign policy, seeing that it is upon foreign policy that questions of defencez primarily depend?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe policy of the Government in this matter is explained in the dispatch of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of Stale for the Colonies of 10th December (Cd. 6560), to which I can add nothing.