Tuesday, 19 April 1955
The House—after the Adjournment on 7th April, 1955, for the Easter Recess—met at half-past Two o'clock
[Mr. SPEAKER in the Chair]
As amended, considered; to be read the Third time.
Read a Second time, and committed.
asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from British firms concerning the cancellation of, or variations in, contracts placed in this country as a result of...
asked the President of the Board of Trade when the report of the Monopolies Commission on various restrictive practices under Section 15 of the Monopolies Act will be available.
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of improved stocks, he will now end the rationing of newsprint.
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that certain textile manufacturers are using a mixture of Egyptian and Sudanese cotton and are marking the cloth as Egyptian cotton;...
asked the President of the Board of Trade to make a statement about the result of the recent negotiations in Geneva for the review of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and the accession...
asked the President of the Board of Trade what annual saving in foreign currency he estimates is made by the work of the Waste Paper Recovery Association Limited; and to what extent the existing...
asked the President of the Board of Trade what restrictions are imposed on the imports of bismuth metal.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to authorise the repayment of post-war credits to all those who have been in receipt of National Insurance benefits for a period of not...
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the purchasing value of the £ sterling at the latest convenient date compared with 20s. in October, 1951.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the increase in national expenditure on food from the beginning of 1952 to the latest convenient date was due to higher prices, and how much to...
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the recent increase in the Bank Rate, with its resultant effect on the borrowing rates charged by the Public Works Loan Board, he...
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government by what percentage over the last four years total expenditure, including expenditure on education, by county councils has increased.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement in respect of representations made to him by local authorities concerning the high rate of interest charged to...
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) whether he will appoint a committee to investigate and report on the problem of clearing oily deposits from beaches, in view of the fact...
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why there has been delay in carrying out the piped-water schemes in the Ripon and Pateley Bridge Rural District Council's area; and what is...
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the shortage of water in the Ilkley Urban District Council's area owing to increased housing and improved sanitation; and...
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will visit mining subsidence areas to examine the problems of local authorities on the spot.
The Rev. LI. Williams: asked the Minister of Labour the financial loss or profit made by Remploy in 1951, 1952, 1953, and 1954, respectively; and the financial loss or profit by Remploy,...
asked the Minister of Labour to make a statement on the Report of the Committee of Inquiry into the dispute between members of the Amalgamated Engineering Union and the Electrical Trades Union...
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what research has been conducted into the problem of removing the high phosphorous content of the magnetite deposit in Tiree, with a view to enabling it...
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what reply he made to the letter sent to him on 8th May, 1954, by Sir Edward Appleton on the subject of deferment of National Service for intending...
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will request the Advisory Council on Secondary Education to investigate the reasons why children leave secondary schools which provide courses...
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that on occasions non-commissioned officers refuse to allow men in their charge to apply to a medical officer for examination or...
asked the Secretary of State for War what steps have been taken to ensure the continued employment of the technical officials lately employed in Anti-Aircraft Command.
asked the Secretary of State for War what representations have been made to his Department during the past two years by the Electrical Trades Union or any other trades union concerning the use of...
Mr. Dugdale: asked the Secretary of State for War which of the recommendations of the Report of the Committee on the Organisation and Administration of Boys' Units in the Army he proposes to adopt.
asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement indicating the present position with regard to top-level talks designed to reduce international tension; and what progress has been made since...
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he has taken during the last month, and is now taking, to stop experimental explosions of atomic hydrogen and thermo-nuclear bombs.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what communication Her Majesty's Government have received from the Peking Government concerning the loss of an Indian aircraft bound from Hong...
asked the Minister of Education who has been appointed to the post of Principal of the College of Aeronautics.
asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will invite Dundee Corporation to send observers to the official discussions on the proposed tube across the Firth of Forth.
Mr. H. Morrison (by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement as to the attitude of Her Majesty's Government towards the agreement reached between the Soviet Union...
It may be convenient if I inform the House that the Budget debate will be continued tomorrow and on Thursday. I apologise for my lack of voice, and assure the House that I do not intend to take...
Considered in Committee.
3.35 p.m.
I now come to consider the balance of payments situation against which we must look at all I have just been saying. The past year has shown that, while it is right to run our island economy in a...
Nevertheless, it became clear by February that we needed to take action to moderate the growth of imports and to encourage exports. And from the result, all I can say is, thank goodness that we...
Now we must see how the Budget fits into the picture of economic policy as a whole. Hon. Members may relax for a few minutes and enjoy the usual, or I might say unusual, but essential figures...
Now, for the figures. Total revenue in 1954–55 amounted to £4,738 million, which is £205 million more than my Budget estimate. Inland Revenue duties were £2,541 million, or...
Now for expenditure. While revenue exceeded expectations, expenditure fell short of them. Consolidated Fund Services amounted to £665 million, or £2 million less than the Budget...
The Committee will remember that I budgeted last year for a small surplus of £10 million. In fact, we have realised a surplus of £433 million. Of the difference of £423 million,...
If the Committee will bear with me, I will now very briefly summarise the position about the National Debt. The National Debt outstanding at 31st March, 1955, was £26,933 million, an...
One success story of the past year of which we can all be proud is the record of the National Savings Movement. After passing through a difficult phase the Movement had begun to show signs early...
I turn now to look forward to the year 1955–56 and propose first to look at the Budget accounts, starting above the line.
Now for expenditure. I estimate total expenditure above the line in 1955–56 at £4,562 million—an increase of £39 million over the Budget estimate for 1954–55.
Now to return to the Supply figure. I spoke at some length last year about the urgent need to control expenditure, and to achieve savings wherever possible, in order that the economy may carry,...
Coming to civil expenditure, I will just mention agriculture and food. There are always a good many questions about what the agricultural policy costs us, so I have analysed it as follows: the...
Now I will try to sum up Exchequer prospects on the existing basis of taxation. During the past year we have maintained a vigilant watch on both the totality of Government expenditure and its...
It is not enough for us to earn abroad sufficient merely to meet the cost of our imports. We have also to repay our debts; and we have to resume our traditional position as the main supplier of...
Now I come to the analysis of likely home demand. If we consider the whole range of the economy, will there be room for an increase in exports? It is in the light of this fundamental question...
What, then, should be my final Budget judgment? This year there are clear limits to the possibilities of large remissions of taxation, especially of indirect taxes which would encourage spending...
I come now to my Budget proposals. The advice which I have received this year has been almost unlimited. The representatives of industry, commerce and organised labour have sent me their annual...
A. Small income relief
Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn.—[Mr. E. Wakefield.]
Debates in the House of Commons are an opportunity for MPs from all parties to scrutinise government legislation and raise important local, national or topical issues.
And sometimes to shout at each other.
