§ Mr. KNOTTasked whether there is a shortage of the cotton crop in Egypt; if so, to what extent and to what cause the shortage, if any, is attributed in the reports received at the 226 Foreign Office; whether the European inspectors, whose duty it was to superintend the extermination of the cotton plant parasites, have been superseded by Egyptians, and if, since such supersession, the parasites have enormously increased; and whether any steps will be taken to ensure more efficient inspection?
Mr. McKINNON WOODWith regard to the first, second and fourth parts of this question, I must refer the hon. Member to the answers given on the 10th ultimo to the hon. Member for Burnley and on the 15th ultimo to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton. I have no information respecting the third part of the question.