Oral Answers to Questions — Government Departments. – in the House of Commons at on 5 December 1939.
Mr Thomas Naylor
, Southwark South East
asked the Chancellor of the exchequer whether, in view of the highly effective measures now completed for countering enemy air attack on London, and the need for more economical administration of Government Departments, he will consider the desirability of giving instructions for the return of all civil servants who were evacuated on the outbreak of war for reasons of greater safety and security?
Captain Harry Crookshank
, Gainsborough
I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Shipley (Mr. Creech Jones) on 14th November. I am not satisfied that a reversal of the existing policy would be in the public interest.
Mr Herbert Williams
, Croydon South
If it is safe enough for Members of Parliament to be here, why cannot civil servants be in London as well?
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.
