Oral Answers to Questions — National Finance – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 28 July 1959.
Sir Gerald Nabarro
, Kidderminster
12:00,
28 July 1959
asked the Chancellor of the exchequer to what extent Finnish representatives were present at his talks in Stockholm with the Outer Seven countries; and, having regard to existing trade arrangements with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, what representations have ben received from the Soviet Government regarding the effects of the proposed trading arrangements for these countries.
Mr Reginald Maudling
, Barnet
As stated in the communiqué issued after the Stockholm talks last week, the Finnish Minister for Trade and Industry was invited to make a statement to the conference explaining the attitude of his Government to the plan for a Free Trade Association. He said that the Finnish Government hoped to be provided with facilities to follow further discussions more closely. Ministers of the Seven countries took note of the Finnish statement and agreed that Finland, as a member of the Nordic group, should be afforded such facilities being unable to follow developments through the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation of which she is not a member.
Her Majesty's Government have received no representations on this matter from the Soviet Government.
Sir Gerald Nabarro
, Kidderminster
Can my right hon. Friend say whether the failure of the Finns to participate in this agreement was due to Soviet blandishments or due to the fact that it would have been incompatible with the Anglo-Soviet Agreement on trade negotiated only a few months ago?
Mr Reginald Maudling
, Barnet
Neither. They did not ask to participate. They asked to be given facilities to follow what we were doing, and that request was readily granted.
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.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
