§ 23. Brigadier-General SURTEESasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been called to the fact that the shortage of food in Egypt, largely arising from the lessened imports of corn, threatens a serious invasion of the land now used for the growth of cotton; and what steps he intends to take to avert such shortage of raw material as will not only seriously affect the development of a rapidly growing native industry, but will injure a portion of the Lancashire cotton trade?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODHis Majesty's Government are aware that Egypt is in need of considerable quantities of imported wheat, and the Royal Wheat Commission 616 are assisting the Egyptian authorities to obtain their requirements as far as possible. His Majesty's Government have no knowledge of any intention on the part of the Egyptian Government to restrict the area under cotton, and the present price of that crop is the best guarantee that it will be extensively cultivated.
§ Earl WINTERTONIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the Egyptian Government during the War did by legislation restrict the growth of cotton and have those restrictions now been removed?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI was referring to the past.