Oral Answers to Questions — Wembley Stadium. – in the House of Commons at on 2 May 1923.
Mr Philip Snowden
, Colne Valley
asked the Chancellor of the exchequer if he is aware that the wages of the brewery workers in different parts of the country are being reduced by five and six shillings a week; and whether, in the arrangement he made with the brewers for the reduction of the Beer Duty, he stipulated that the brewers should not pass on to the brewery workers and the consumers a part or the whole of the 4s. per barrel they are intended to bear?
Major Sir Archibald Boyd-Carpenter
, Bradford North
The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the last part of the question, I have nothing to add to the statements that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the exchequer has already made on the reduction of the Beer Duty.
Mr Philip Snowden
, Colne Valley
Am I to understand from that reply that the Chancellor of the exchequer is not aware of the fact that wages have been reduced all over the country?
Major Sir Archibald Boyd-Carpenter
, Bradford North
I have already said that he is not aware of that fact.
Mr Philip Snowden
, Colne Valley
Then he ought to be.
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.
