§ Sir W. ESSEXasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the present prices of tea on the London wholesale market are largely due to the gambling operations of a person or persons in that market; and whether, if his inquiries or knowledge satisfy him that such is the case, he will take action in the public interest to prevent such artificial inflation of prices?
Mr. RUNCIMANThe information available would not warrant me in assenting to the statement contained in the first part of this question. With reference to the second part, the Bill which, as has already been stated, I am proposing to introduce shortly, will provide a remedy for abuses of the kind which my hon. Friend has in mind.