§ MR. HARRIS (Tynemouth)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he can state what were respectively the average prices per quarter of 480 pounds of wheat in France and in the United Kingdom for the five years ending the 31st December, 1882, and for the five years ending the 31st December, 1902; and what was the amount of duty per quarter on imported wheat imposed in France during each of these periods.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe average price of wheat per quarter in France in the five years 1878–1882 was 49s. 10d., and in the five years 1898–1902, 37s. 3d. The Gazette average price of British wheat in England and Wales in the first period was 45s. per quarter, and in the second 28s. 3d. During the 700 five years 1878–1882 the French import duty on wheat was at the rate of 0.60 fr. per 100 kilogs (1s. 0½d. per quarter), and in the five years 1898–1902 7 frs. per 100 kilogs. (12s. 2d. per quarter)
§ SIR EDGAR VINCENT (Exeter)Is the price given for France the official price?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURYes.
§ MR. WINSTON CHURCHILL (Oldham)I hope this answer will be circulated in the Press.