Orders of the Day — Defence Loans Bill.

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at on 25 February 1937.

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Photo of Mr John Simon Mr John Simon , Spen Valley

Now that this Debate is reaching its close, and the full broadside has been delivered from across the Table, including the sincere and powerful speech which has just been made by the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Morgan Jones), I think it is fair to say that, while, of course, there are many matters which may be in dispute, as to what this proposal may bring about in the future, where the responsibility should be truly laid, and so forth, there really is not any deep dispute between the Government and right hon. Gentlemen on the Front Bench opposite that in the present circumstances there must be a very substantial increase in the expenditure on armaments for Defence. The opening exchanges between the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Keighley (Mr. Lees-Smith) will long be remembered by those who were here because of the two questions that the Chancellor addressed to the right hon. Gentleman and his efforts to reply to them. I was particularly interested, because I have known for a good many years that, if you really want to frame a good question in cross-examination, it should be a very simple question which admits of only one answer, and that an answer which the witness dare not give. That test was completely satisfied by my right hon. Friend's questions.