§ MR. HAROLD COXI beg to ask the Prime Minister whether a Ministerial Committee has been appointed by His Majesty's Government to consider proposals for a subsidised steamship line between Great Britain and Canada; if so, whether he can assure the House that the Government will not assent to any proposal which conflicts either with the recommendations of the Select Committee on steamship subsidies or with the pledges given by the Liberal Party at the general election to promote economy in public expenditure; whether this Ministerial Committee has had before it a 122 Canadian proposition that the line must be equipped in such a manner that perishable products of the Dominion may be landed in the mother country in the best condition; and whether it is part of the policy of His Majesty's Government to tax British and Irish farmers in order to enable competing Canadian produce to be carried across the Atlantic at less than commercial rates.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThe proposals referred to are being examined by certain members of the Government with the aid of experts. Until this examination has been completed, I am not in a position to make any statement on the matter.