§ Mr. BUXTONasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, having regard to the fact that the Council of Agriculture has supported the proposal to set up a wheat imports board for the bulk purchase of wheat and flour imported into this country, he will now institute an inquiry into the question in order to supplement the investigations made by the Departmental Committee on the Stabilisation of Agricultural Prices in 1924?
Mr. GUINNESSThe Council of Agriculture adopted by a majority a recommendation that the Government should give serious consideration to the institution of a wheat imports board to purchase all overseas wheat and flour coming into the country. This question was discussed, and, after thorough consideration, rejected by the Imperial Economic Conference in 1923 and more recently by the Royal Commission on Food Prices in 1925, and I am not prepared to institute the further inquiry suggested.