§ MR. SOARES (Devonshire, Barnstaple)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the proposed inquiry into the fiscal system will embrace the conditions of tenure under which British tenant farmers hold their farms and the possibility of their position being worsened by their rents being raised against them in consequence of the proposed increase in the price of corn: I beg also to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether in the proposed inquiry into the fiscal system the question will be considered of the effect on the agricultural industry if permanent pasture in this country be broken up in consequence of an increase in the price of corn, and if 22 ultimately such land should fail to be profitable for corn-growing purposes owing to the development of corn-growing areas in the Colonies.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am afraid I have no information to give to the hon. Gentleman in reply to his Questions. They appear to be purely hypothetical, and the hypotheses on which the hon. Gentleman has proceeded seem to me, if he will forgive me for saying so, rather fantastic.