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HOUSE OF COMMONS
Oral Answers
Mr. McEntee: Will the Prime Minister his influence to see that self- determination is granted to Ireland, in view of the fact that he was so anxious to get it for Sudetenland in Germany?
The Prime Minister: It is a question for Northern Ireland and Eire.
NATIONAL FINANCE.
53. Mr. H. G. Williams asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the excess of expenditure over revenue since 1st April up to the latest date for which the figures are available; and how this excess compares with the corresponding period of the last financial year?
Sir J. Simon: The amount up to 29th October, 1938, is £181,988,000 as com- pared with a figure of £115,304,000 as at 30th October, 1937. These figures, however, do not give any trustworthy indication of the probable outturn of the whole year.
As the Budget estimates were some £80,000,000 higher than last year, the excess of expenditure over revenue in the earlier part of the year But, would naturally be higher also. apart from this, some £53,000,000 out of
the increase of £67,000,000 relates to Defence expenditure, provision for which will be charged in part to loan.
Mr. Williams: Having regard to the fact that things are turning out rather worse than was anticipated, can my right hon. Friend indicate the Government's intentions with regard to avoiding a deficit for the next financial year?
EXCHANGE EQUALISATION FUND.
54. Mr. Craven-Ellis asked the Chan- cellor of the Exchequer to what extent the Exchange Equalisation Fund lost gold following the recovery in France which has brought about the return to that country of much fugitive capital?
Sir J. Simon: I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 5th October, 1938, to the hon. Member for East Birkenhead (Mr. White).
Mr. Craven-Ellis: Is my right hon. Friend not of opinion that if this country had been on the Gold Standard it would not have been possible for such a large amount of gold to be transferred?
Oral Answers
MONETARY POLICY.
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55. Mr. Craven-Ellis asked the Chan- cellor of the Exchequer whether he will assure the House that before
any change is made in the long-term monetary
outlined in policy
the Ottawa Monetary Report of 1932, and confirmed by the British Empire Cur- rency Declaration issued on 27th July, 1933, an exhaustive inquiry by a com- mission, upon which agriculture and in- dustry have equal representations with finance, will be held?
Sir J. Simon: No alteration such as my hon. Friend has in mind is in contempla- tion and the question, therefore, does not arise.
56. Mr. Craven-Ellis asked the Chan- cellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that the decline in the sterling wholesale price-level this year, and the consequent deterioration in the condition of trade and employment in this country, is largely attributable to the influence of the depression in the United States of America, he will consider to what extent it be advisable to revise the present
may policy of maintaining the approximate stability of the sterling-dollar exchange rate with a view to minimising the in- fluence of adverse conditions in the United States of America upon the sterling wholesale price-level?
Sir J. Simon: I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for East Bradford (Mr. Hepworth) on 22nd June, 1938.
Mr. Craven-Ellis: May I ask whether this country has any definite obligation to maintain the pound sterling in relation to the dollar under the Tripartite Currency Agreement?
Sir J. Simon: My hon. Friend knows that the effect of the Tripartite Currency Agreement has often been stated, and if he will examine it he will no doubt find the answer.
UNEMPLOYMENT. UNEMPLOYMENT FUND.
61. Mr. H. G. Williams asked the Minister of Labour what sum now stands to the credit of the Unemployment Fund; and what is the amount of its present funded debt?
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Oral Answers
I NOVEMBER 1938
The Minister of Labour (Mr. Ernest Brown): At 29th October, 1938, the total balance of the Unemployment Fund was about £46,982,000, including investments at cost. The amount of the debt now outstanding is about £81,530,000.
Mr. Macquisten: May I ask how these investments compare with the market price? Do they show any heavy depreciation?
Mr. Brown: I should like to have notice of that question.
SPECIAL AREAS.
62. Mr. J. Griffiths asked the Minister of Labour whether the Government have decided on the continuation of the Special Areas Act; and whether it is proposed to give consideration to a review of the existing boundaries before
any measure is introduced?
new
Mr. E. Brown: The proposals of the Government in this matter will be announced in due course.
Mr. Griffiths: Is the right hon. Gentle- man inviting representations from areas outside the Special Areas Act, or is he prepared to receive such representations?
Mr. Brown: As the hon. Member knows, I have already received one or two re-
Building
Industry.
Oral Answers
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presentations, and I am constantly re- ceiving deputations on this subject.
Mr. Rhys Davies: Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us what he means by the words in due course "? Can he be more explicit?
Mr. Brown: Not at the moment.
LINCOLN.
63. Mr. Liddall asked the Minister of Labour whether he will indicate the course of employment by numbers, in- dustries, and percentages, respectively, for the city of Lincoln for the months of July, August, and September, 1938?
Mr. E. Brown: As the reply includes a table of figures, I will, if I may, cir- culate statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
a
Following is the statement:
The table below shows for the area served by the Lincoln Employment Exchange, (a) the numbers of insured persons, aged 16-64 years, recorded as unemployed in the principal industries at 18th July, 15th August and 12th Septem- ber, 1938, and (b) these numbers ex- pressed as percentages of the estimated numbers insured at July, 1937.
15th August, 1938. 12th September, 1938.
18th July 1938.
Number. Per cent. Number. Per cent.
Number.
Per cent.
218
8.8
196
7.9
221
8.9
General Engineering, etc.
416
6. I
445
6.5
458
6.7
Sawmilling and Machined Wood-
work.
21
5.3
21
5.3
34
8.5
Hotel, Boarding House, etc.
72
13.3
68
12-6
14:4
Service.
Miscellaneous Food Industries... Distributive Trades
99
22.0
119
26.4
124
238
6. I
235
6.0
264
27.6 6.8
All other Industries and Services
908
10.2
869
9.8
866
9.7
Total
1,972
8.4
1,953
8-3
2,045
8.7
8 75880
NOTE. The figures given in the above Table are exclusive of insured persons within the agricultural scheme; the numbers of such workers, aged 16-64, recorded as unemployed at the Lincoln Employment Exchange at 18th July, 15th August and 12th September, 1938, were 148, 153 and 113 respectively.
WINTER ALLOWANCES.
65. Mr. W. Joseph Stewart asked the Minister of Labour whether he can inform the House of the date for commencing the payment of extra winter allowances to the unemployed?
No. 165
Mr. E. Brown: The first payment of additions granted under the Unemploy- ment Assistance (Winter Adjustments) Regulations, 1938, will be made in respect of the pay week which includes 14th November, 1938.
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