Oral Answers to Questions — National Finance – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 24 Ebrill 1947.
Sir Walter Fletcher
, Bury
12:00,
24 Ebrill 1947
asked the Chancellor of the exchequer if he will, in future, include in the monthly statistics of exports, the total value of these exports that are made a against cancellation of sterling balances in this country.
Mr Hugh Dalton
, Bishop Auckland
No, Sir. This suggestion is totally impracticable.
Sir Walter Fletcher
, Bury
Could not the Chancellor think of some alternative means whereby support can be given to the strong statement in his Budget speech about which very many people agree with him?
Mr Hugh Dalton
, Bishop Auckland
I am much obliged to the hon. Gentleman, and we will certainly consider what means we have to do that, but his principle is impracticable, as the hon. Gentleman will realise, because the figures which would be given would be the outcome of trade with all countries, and not only with the United Kingdom, and it also depends on capital movements, invisibles and other items.
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.
