50. Captain ARTHUR EVANSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the assurance recently given by the firm of Spillers, Limited, that no rise in the price of bread and flour would be caused by Government action to prevent the importation of flour from abroad, which is being sold at between 5s. and 6s. below the cost of production in Great Britain, he is now in a position to announce the Government's decision with regard to this matter?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI have seen a statement in the Press on the lines indicated by my hon. and gallant Friend. He will no doubt be aware that the Import Duties Advisory Committee have under consideration an application to increase the duty on foreign flour.
Captain EVANSWill the right hon. Gentleman say what he meant when he told the House that the Government were watching this question day by day? Are we to infer that they were considering making a decision apart from the recommendation of the Import Duties Advisory Committee?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANWe cannot make any recommendation apart from the judgment of the Advisory Committee when it has a subject of this kind under consideration.