Part of Oral Answers to Questions — National Finance – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 17 June 1947.
Commander Sir John Maitland
, Horncastle
12:00,
17 June 1947
asked the Chancellor of the exchequer why tablets containing more than one per cent, of saccharin in gift parcels from U.S.A. are charged as if they consisted wholly of saccharin; and whether he is aware that the object of using these tablets is to save sugar, which can then be used for other and more vital purposes.
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.
