– in the House of Commons at on 20 February 1940.
Mr Thomas Levy
, Elland
asked the Chancellor of the exchequer whether comforts for the British Navy, sent free from America, are being subjected to Customs Duty, and whether he will consider admitting these articles duty free?
Mr John Simon
, Spen Valley
It is not intended to charge Customs Duty on gifts of comforts sent from abroad to this country for the Royal Navy, and in fact arrangements to facilitate the speedy distribution of such gifts on a duty-free basis are at present under consideration.
Mr Cecil Poole
, Lichfield
May I ask whether the same arrangements will apply to the army?
Mr John Simon
, Spen Valley
I think I have answered a question on that point.
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.
