§ MR. WINSTON CHURCHILL (Oldham)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Secretary of State for the Colonies has submitted any definite proposals to the Cabinet to serve as a basis for the fiscal inquiry upon which they are now engaged; whether, in order to give a preference to the colonies, these proposals include a tax on bread, and to what extent; whether they include a tax on meat (including 83 bacon), butter, cheese, eggs, and fruit, and, in each case, to what extent.
§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, E.)I think my hon. friend will agree with me that this is a Question which clearly I ought not to answer. The inquiry, as I have stated more than once, is a Cabinet inquiry, and it would be an evil precedent to give details of the manner in which that inquiry is to be conducted.
§ MR. WINSTON CHURCHILLWill the right hon. gentleman give an assurance that no tax on beef or mutton is contemplated?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURMy hon. friend seems hardly to realise that we are making an inquiry. Until we know what the result of inquiry is, it would surely be premature to answer that question.
§ MR. WINSTON CHURCHILLMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman how we can participate in the inquiry if we are not informed of its scope and of its nature?
§ [No answer was returned.]
§ MR. WINSTON CHURCHILLMay I ask whether the Colonial Secretary can give us any information?
§ [No answer was returned.]
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMOND, (Clare, E.)Ask his brother Arthur.