§ 46. Sir H. CROFTasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the Motion tabled this week by 213 Members of this House calling for immediate action in view of the grave depression in this country and throughout the Empire; and whether he will give an early date for its discussion?—["That this House, realising the grave and progressive depression in industry, agriculture, and employment in Great Britain and in all the countries of the British Empire, is of opinion that there is imperative need for action in securing the Home market against unfair foreign competition as the only means of restoring production, maintaining the standard of living of the workers, and providing new revenue for the relief of taxation, and in establishing the widest measure of reciprocal preference between all parts of the Empire as the most speedy and most effect means of promoting the export trade and shipping industry of Great Britain and the prosperity of the Empire as a whole."]
§ The PRIME MINISTERMy attention has been called to this Motion. The pressure of business, however, is such as to make it impossible for me to promise an early date for its discussion.
§ Sir H. CROFTIs it not more important to take immediate steps to restore industry, in view of the alarming increase of unemployment, than to pursue Measures which have no relation to the crisis?