§ 34. Major HOWARDasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that millers are prohibited from giving more than 76s. 6d. per quarter for home-grown wheat while the Government are paying 90s. and upwards for overseas wheat; and whether, in view of the situation in which British farmers and smallholders are placed by these conditions and the danger of much arable land going out of cultivation, he will consider the desirability of discontinuing this provision, which amounts to a subsidy to the State of 15s. per quarter on the part of borne growers of wheat?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe arrangements made by the Wheat Commission are designed to carry out the undertaking given by the Government on the 19th November, 1609 1918, that the price of home-grown wheat for 1919 should not be less than 71s. 11d. per quarter of 480 lbs., and I am not prepared to modify them.