§ Mr. FIELDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, owing to American and British speculators operat- 2088W ing through the medium of options and futures, the price of wheat and bread has been unduly raised; and whether he will make inquiry and consider the advisability of instituting measures to prevent gambling in food supplies?
Mr. HARCOURTMy hon. Friend will be aware that dealings in wheat futures have been suspended on the principal markets in this country during the War. As I stated in reply to a question asked on Tuesday by the hon. Member for East Leeds, the recent rise in the price of wheat in this country was mainly due to advances in wheat prices in the United States, over which His Majesty's Government have no control.