MR. LAWRENCE (Liverpool, Abercrombie)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the bounties on sailing ships will be inquired into by the Select Committee to be appointed under the motion of the hon. Member for Aston Manor; and, if not, whether he will take steps to allow the inquiry to be extended so as to include them, and thus complete the investigation as to foreign bounties on shipping generally.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI have no objection to the principle of the pro 1162 posal, which has been pressed on me by other hon. Members. As a matter of fact, the House has already settled the reference, and it cannot be altered without further action on the part of the House. I think the best course would be to appoint the Committee under the reference as it stands, and then, if the hon. Member moves an Instruction extending that reference, no opposition will be offered by me.