§ 68. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for India whether he can make any statement as to the rice ring in Burma and the method His Majesty's Government proposes in order to break the ring?
§ Mr. PARKER (Lord of the Treasury, for Mr. Montagu)My right hon. Friend has seen statements which have appeared in the Press as to the existence of a rice ring in Burma, but has no reason to believe that the attempt alleged to have been made to corner rice supplies has been successful. The Government of India are watching the situation closely, and are taking action to deal with it. My right hon. Friend is in telegraphic communication with them on the subject. It is a matter for them, and not for His Majesty's Government.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWhen shall we have any information as to this from the India Office?
§ Mr. PARKERI cannot give the hon. Member the information but I will ask the Secretary of State about it.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODMay I ask the Leader of the House whether the Secretary of State for India attends on any particular day of the week?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. and gallant Gentleman knows the day on which Indian questions have precedence.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODAs under the new management questions are now generally concluded every day of the week, may we expect that Ministers will revert to the ancient practice of attending to answer their own questions?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is the duty of Ministers to be present, unless they have overriding engagements.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODMay I point out that I put this question to the Secretary of State for India on Thursday, but he could not come, and wrote to me to say so. I put it down again for to-day at his own request, and he is not here.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI assume, of course, that he has been prevented from attending.