Oral Answers to Questions — National Finance – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 28 January 1947.
Brigadier Maekeson:
asked the Chancellor of the exchequer whether it is the policy of His Majesty's Government to treat as secret the prices paid by His Majesty's Government, and their agents, for foodstuffs and raw materials purchased abroad.
Mr Hugh Dalton
, Bishop Auckland
Yes,, Sir, save in exceptional cases.
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.
