§ MR. BLACK (Banffshire)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he can now state whether, at the general election, the Government is to ask a mandate to support or to oppose the protective or preferential taxation in this country of wheat and flour, and of certain raw materials.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI think I have had occasion before to reply to the hon. Gentleman on this subject. He shows an almost morbid curiosity about the contents of my election address, which will, no doubt, appear in due time.
§ MR. BLACKDoes taxation of this character still occupy the first place in the Ministerial programme?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe hon Gentleman by that, of course, means the Ministerial programme for the next Parliament. I do not know what the Ministerial programme for the next Parliament will be.
§ MR. LAMBERT (Devonshire, South Molton)Will the right hon. Gentleman say when he proposes to issue his election address?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIn due time.
§ MR. CHURCHILL (Oldham)It is overdue now.
§ MR. BLACKI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he can state whether, at the general election, the Government is to ask a mandate to support or to oppose a general tariff on imports from foreign countries.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI think the reply, which I hope was satisfactory, to the last Question will be found equally sufficient to this Question.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe half-sheet of notepaper remains a half-sheet of note-paper.