Oral Answers to Questions — National Finance – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 24 February 1959.
Mr Jon Rankin
, Glasgow Govan
12:00,
24 February 1959
asked the Chancellor of the exchequer what reply he sent to the invitation to meet Sir Alec Guinness and certain other film stars last Wednesday to hear representations about the entertainments tax.
Mr Jon Rankin
, Glasgow Govan
Would not the Chancellor agree that on this occasion a little Guinness would have done him good? Would he now agree to return the compliment and say that he will be good for Guinness and the British public by saying that he will abolish the cinema tax?
Mr. Amory:
I receive few invitations to meet film stars and normally this invitation would have been something I should have welcomed. But it contained these words:
You yourself no doubt will be unable to be present.
In those circumstances, I left it to the representatives of the trade to make representations to hon. Members who, no doubt, will make representations to me.
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.
The Chancellor - also known as "Chancellor of the Exchequer" is responsible as a Minister for the treasury, and for the country's economy. For Example, the Chancellor set taxes and tax rates. The Chancellor is the only MP allowed to drink Alcohol in the House of Commons; s/he is permitted an alcoholic drink while delivering the budget.
