HC Deb 07 March 1905 vol 142 cc593-4
MR. BLACK (Banffshire)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Government has determined at the ensuing general election to ask a mandate from the electorate to oppose any proposal to impose taxation which for purposes other than the raising of revenue tends to raise the price of wheat or flour to the consumer in this country.

THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, E.)

I do not think that the contents of my election address are a proper subject for Question and Answer across the floor of the House.

MR. BLACK

Is it then the policy of the Government that Ministers should alternately advocate and condemn taxation of this character?

No Answer being given,

MR. BLACK,

again rising, said: Has the right hon Gentleman no Answer to give to my supplementary Question?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I did not even hear it.

MR. BLACK

May I repeat it, Sir?

*MR. SPEAKER

It does not arise out of the Answer of the right hon. Gentleman. The Question on the Paper was fully answered.

MR. BLACK

I beg to submit, Sir, that the Question was not answered.

*MR. SPEAKER

There seems to be some confusion in the minds of some hon. Members as to the difference between an Answer and a satisfactory Answer.