Class X

Part of Orders of the Day — Civil Estimates and Estimates for Revenue Departments, Supplementary Estimate, 1946–47 – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 28 February 1947.

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Photo of Mr Charles Williams Mr Charles Williams , Torquay 12:00, 28 February 1947

That may be a prophecy, and I thank the hon. Lady most sincerely for it and for her attempt to help me. I agree that that is a possibility but I am not at all sure that it will actually be the result. No one can foresee it for certain. It may make the situation worse. I am not disputing the wisdom of her remark, but I am asking for a very clear explanation of this sudden rise in the figures. We are entitled to ask the Minister to explain how it is accounted for and whether the figure is likely to increase in the future. There are people in my constituency who are suffering because they have to help to find this money.

1.45 p.m.

However, that is only one of the smaller items. The next four items, under G, H, I and J, show a colossal total increase of more than £50 million. If we had not to find that money we should be able to take a very large sum off P.A.Y.E. We ought to have some justification for the increase. I ask the Minister for a fuller explanation. Let me take the first item, relating to Austria. We have had from the Minister some kind of explanation. We are finding an additional sum of more than £3 million. His explanation was that it had to be done because of the Austrian exchange and because there was no currency to meet it. I should like some idea before I vote for this Estimate whether this figure is to be permanent, or, on the other hand, how much longer it will go on. We are probably supplying too much money. We should be supplying about £1,250,000, and the rest of it should be supplied by other nations.

The Minister said something about the American percentage. What contribution are we getting out of France and Russia for this purpose? How long are we to go on keeping Austria and, at the same time, subsidising her? It is a very curious position. We won the war, but instead of getting reparations from the defeated countries it seems that those countries have been obtaining reparations from us. It is an extraordinary and most unfortunate position, and very hard upon the taxpayers of this country. It may be necessary to find the money to keep things going and to feed the people, but before we do so we should have a clear explanation from the Government, to reassure us that we are not finding more than our proper proportion compared with the rest of our Allies.

All these items show a tremendous increase. There is our share of relief in Germany, more than £25 million, which appears to me to be a completely new Vote. I shall be obliged to go into the Lobby against the Government, after having heard the speech of the hon. Member for Ipswich (Mr. Stokes), and because of these colossal increases. I am not an expert in these matters. I have a constituency of very great size which takes up a great deal of my time. I do not pose as an expert in European affairs. I am not like so many hon. Members who represent nothing but silly little rotten boroughs. [HON. MEMBERS: "0h."] Not silly, but small.