§ Mr. FIELDasked the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is aware that the French Government has been forced to pass into law last week the new clauses of its Finance Bill with respect to gambling operations in time-bargains (Options and Futures) on its Bourses; whether he is aware that the Chinese and Siamese Governments were also forced last autumn to take special actions with regard to gambling operations in order to protect their people from the cornering of foodstuffs; and whether he will take official steps to procure full particulars of these and other Governments' actions respecting gambling in futures and options, with the view of laying them upon the Table of the House for the benefit of Members?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am aware that certain Clauses of the Finance Bill referred to by the hon. Member relate to "time-bargains," but I have no official information as to the nature of these Clauses, nor as to any action taken by the Chinese and Siamese Governments in relation to this question. I will make inquiries on these points. Steps are already being taken, in accordance with the promise given to the hon. Member, to obtain particulars of Government action on this subject in the principal commercial countries.