§ MR. BRAND (Cambridgeshire, Wisbech)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether in the inquiry which the Government propose to conduct into the fiscal arrangements of this country, the Prime Ministers of the various colonies will be asked to submit in detail their views in regard to each of the colonies they represent; and, if so, whether the Government will communicate the replies so received to the House.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURMy right hon. friend has asked me to reply to this Question, which I need only do by referring to an answer which I gave to a Question couched in practically identical terms on the 23rd inst.† I then pointed out that the Question, though no doubt an important one, was premature, and that as regards the
†See page 268.812 second branch of it it dealt with a hypothetical matter.
§ MR. M'KENNA (Monmouthshire, N.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the inquiry into the fiscal policy of the Empire has yet reached the stage of inquiry into the changes proposed by the Colonial Secretary; and, if so, whether he can state precisely what those changes are.
§ MR. SCHWANN (Manchester, N.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in the inquiry to be instituted into our present fiscal arrangements, representatives of the classes who live on fixed incomes will be heard, in view of the effect on their interests of increases in the price of food, or of articles which they have been able to purchase heretofore in the cheapest markets.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI can only repeat what I have said before. I have no information to give the House on these subjects, and I do not think they are proper subjects for cross-examination across the floor of the House.