Oral Answers to Questions — Trade and Commerce. – in the House of Commons at on 15 June 1933.
Mr Samuel Hammersley
, Stockport
(for Sir NICHOLAS GRATTAN-DOYLE) asked the Chancellor of the exchequer whether his attention has been called to the difficulties caused to British merchant shipping and exporting industries by the policy of the Suez Canal Company in relation to British trade; and will he consider reconstituting the official British membership of the Suez Canal Company Board at an early opportunity so as to give better protection to British interests?
Mr Leslie Hore-Belisha
, Plymouth, Devonport
I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to similar questions on this subject on Tuesday last, and of which I am sending him a, copy.
Mr Samuel Hammersley
, Stockport
Is my hon. Friend aware that this system of having two sets of directors, official and trade directors, results in the trade representa- tion on the Suez Canal Board being weaker than it would otherwise 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.
