Oral Answers to Questions — Public Health. – in the House of Commons am ar 10 Tachwedd 1938.
Mr Morgan Price
, Forest of Dean
asked the Chancellor of the exchequer the amount of credit which, up to date, has been granted to Czechoslovakia by the Bank of England under Treasury guarantee, and for what purposes that credit has been used?
Mr Henry White
, Birkenhead East
asked the Chancellor of the exchequer the extent to which the Government of Czechoslovakia have used the special credit of £10,000,000 opened for them by the Bank of England?
Mr John Simon
, Spen Valley
Up to the present, the Bank of England advance has been drawn on to the extent of £5,000,000. I have not yet received a detailed statement of the purposes for which it is being used.
Mr Morgan Price
, Forest of Dean
Will the Chancellor give an undertaking that this money will not be used for the purpose of advancing German trade in Czechoslovakia, at the expense of our own?
Mr John Simon
, Spen Valley
The hon. Gentleman is probably aware that we have appointed a liaison officer, who has gone to Prague for the purpose of providing us with detailed information on the purposes for which this money is being used.
Mr Arthur Henderson
, Kingswinford
In view of the terrible position in Czechoslovakia at the present time with regard to refugees, will the right hon. Gentleman give this matter consideration, with a view to ensuring that a considerable proportion of this grant will be utilised to help these refugees to come to this country and other countries?
Mr John Simon
, Spen Valley
It has always been understood, and indeed stipulated, that the primary purpose of the grant of this money is for assisting refugees.
Mr Arthur Henderson
, Kingswinford
asked the Chancellor of the exchequer whether the French Government have now indicated their attitude to the proposal that they should join with His Majesty's Government in the proposed guaranteed loan of £10,000,000 to the Government of Czechoslovakia?
Mr John Simon
, Spen Valley
This matter is at present being discussed with the French Government.
The chancellor of the exchequer is the government's chief financial minister and as such is responsible for raising government revenue through taxation or borrowing and for controlling overall government spending.
The chancellor's plans for the economy are delivered to the House of Commons every year in the Budget speech.
The chancellor is the most senior figure at the Treasury, even though the prime minister holds an additional title of 'First Lord of the Treasury'. He normally resides at Number 11 Downing Street.
The Chancellor - also known as "Chancellor of the Exchequer" is responsible as a Minister for the treasury, and for the country's economy. For Example, the Chancellor set taxes and tax rates. The Chancellor is the only MP allowed to drink Alcohol in the House of Commons; s/he is permitted an alcoholic drink while delivering the budget.
