§ Sir C. Entwistleasked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence whether he is prepared to give serious consideration to the proposal that the Government should purchase and store for national defence needs I, 000, 000 bales of American cotton, particularly in view of 265W the present low price of the commodity which minimises the possibility of loss on the transaction?
§ Sir T. InskipThe question of accumulating a reserve of cotton has already been carefully considered and, apart from the substantial expenditure involved, the Government are not convinced that it is either necessary or desirable to accumulate a Government reserve. The matter is, of course, kept under review.