§ MR. SETON-KARR (St. Helens)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the Resolution on the subject of our national food supplies in the event of war, which was unanimously accepted by Her Majesty's Government and by this House on 6th April, 1897, and in view of the recent rise in the price of bread stuffs In the United Kingdom in consequence of the American-Spanish war, and also in view of the well-known and continuous short supply of bread stuffs in the United Kingdom, the Government will consider the advisability of appointing a Royal Commission to inquire into the question of our national food supplies, and in particular into the consequences that might arise from the aforesaid short supply of bread stuffs in the event of Her Majesty becoming involved in a war with some European Power, with a view of ascertaining whether any means may be adopted for increasing our national reserve of bread stuffs?
§ MR. LOGAN (Leicestershire, S.)May I ask the right honourable Gentleman whether it is not a fact that the American and Spanish war has in no way interfered with the importation of wheat into this country, and whether it is not also a fact that, with the exception of two years, at no time within the last 10 years have we imported as much wheat from the United States—
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! Notice ought to be given of such a Question.
§ SIR W. CODDINGTON (Blackburn)May I ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether it is not a fact that the Increased price of wheat is largely due 1086 to its scarcity in consequence of the short crops last year, and whether it is not a fact that the price of 42s. 4d. a quarter has been exceeded in five consecutive years from 1878 to—
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder! Notice ought to be given of that Question also. The honourable Member is entering on a Debate.
§ MR. LEWIS (Flint Boroughs)May I ask whether the enhanced price of wheat is not very largely due to certain speculations?
§ MR. SETON-KARRI wish, before the right honourable Gentleman answers the Question, to omit the words "in consequence of the American and Spanish war."
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYIn regard to the various supplementary Questions, both finished and unfinished, upon the subject of the recent rise in wheat, I may say it is not a question which I think any Member of the Government has any special information upon. Certainly I have none. Perhaps the Question had better be addressed to the President of the Board of Trade, who will give the views of the Department on the subject. In answer to the Question on the Paper I have to say that the effect of a state of war on sea-borne commerce, especially in raw material and food stuffs, is one of which we recognise the full importance to this country, and one which necessarily engages our careful attention. We do not, however, think that a Royal Commission to inquire into a single isolated aspect of the complex problem of national defence would serve a useful purpose, nor ought I to say anything to my honourable Friend which would suggest that a scheme of Government food storage, which I believe he advocates, is one which in our judgment could be adopted with advantage.