Oral Answers to Questions — National Finance – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 12 June 1945.
Mr Alfred Edwards
, Middlesbrough East
12:00,
12 June 1945
asked the Chancellor of the exchequer if he is aware that the fixed rate of exchange of 176 Belgian francs to the £ is to the disadvantage of our troops as compared with the civilians of that country; and if he will take steps to have this rate of exchange altered.
Sir John Anderson
, Combined Scottish Universities
I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for the City of Chester (Major Nield) on 4th October last. The reply to the second part of the Question is in the negative.
Mr Alfred Edwards
, Middlesbrough East
Does the Minister not think it is unsatisfactory that our troops in liberated countries should be in a position where they cannot afford to sit down to a decent meal which the liberated people themselves can afford?
Sir John Anderson
, Combined Scottish Universities
If the hon. Gentleman would be good enough to look at the answer to which I referred, he will see it is there explained that many steps are in fact taken to ensure that our troops do not suffer on account of the rate of exchange, by reason of the facilities in canteens, clubs and hostels, where they can get meals on reasonable terms.
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.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
