Clause 1. — (Continuation for further periods of certain Defence Regulations.)

Part of Orders of the Day — Emergency Laws (Transitional Provisions) Bill – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 19 November 1947.

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Photo of Mr Henry Strauss Mr Henry Strauss , Combined English Universities 12:00, 19 November 1947

Unlike the hon. and learned Member for Kettering (Mr. Mitchison), I had not forgotten that fact. Our first objection to this regulation—and to anybody who shares these views that objection is decisive—is that this regulation and its continuance now are morally wrong. On that ground, if there were no others, we should with perfect confidence go into the Lobby in support of this Amendment. But let me pass to the other branch of the argument. Not only is it morally wrong but it is, as I said before in dealing with one of the orders made under this regulation, economically futile. I do not believe that it would be possible to find any economist in this country who would say that this is the way to produce the results desired. They would say that one of the causes of the thing we wish to correct is the ridiculous policy of inflation which the Government, Major Milner, have hitherto pursued—