– in the House of Commons at on 14 March 1929.
Sir Robert Thomas
, Anglesey
asked the Chancellor of the exchequer in view of the ever-increasing disfigurement of the countryside by industry and transport and of the aesthetic and economic value of beauty spots, whether he will, in default of comprehensive legislation to deal with this problem, consider making an annual grant to the National Trust for the purchase of areas which are most immediately menaced?
Mr. SAMUEL:
I sympathise warmly with the aims of the National Trust. I hope it will obtain increasing support from the public, who have so much to gain from its activities. But the Trust is only one of many societies that are working in various ways for the welfare of the community. I fear, therefore, that I cannot single out one particular society for exceptional treatment by giving it a grant from public funds.
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.
