§ MR. FREDERICK WILSON (Norfolk, Mid.)To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he can state how many Parliamentary inquiries were held on the depression in agriculture last century, before the repeal of the Corn Laws, while protective tariffs existed, and the price of corn when those inquiries into depression were made; and describe the nature of the tariffs which existed.
(Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) Parliamentary Committees on agricultural distress sat in the years 1820, 1821 and 1822, 1833, and 1836. Full particulars as to the prices of corn in these years, and as to the tariffs in force, are contained in the Return "Customs Tariffs of the United Kingdom from 1800 to 1897" [C. 8706 of 1897]. See pages 243, 244, 247, and 255.