Oral Answers to Questions — National Finance – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 30 June 1964.
Mr Cyril Bence
, Dunbartonshire East
12:00,
30 June 1964
asked the Chancellor of the exchequer what proportion of the increased revenue required to finance the increased public expenditure set out in Public Expenditure 1963–64 and 1967–68, Command Paper No. 2235, will be raised by borrowing
Mr John Boyd-Carpenter
, Kingston upon Thames
This is a matter to be decided in the context of the Budget for each year in question, and the hon. Gentleman will not expect me to anticipate my right hon. Friend's next three Budget statements.
Mr Cyril Bence
, Dunbartonshire East
It was on the conviction that the right hon. Gentleman and his right hon. and hon. Friends would not be presenting future Budgets that I put down this Question to ascertain whether there was any provision for increasing taxation or for extra borrowings. It is on that that I would like an answer.
Mr John Boyd-Carpenter
, Kingston upon Thames
It is a question for each Budget and for the judgment of the Chancellor of the exchequer to decide, in the light both of the level of public expenditure and the demand on the economy, what proportion of that total expenditure should be met out of taxation and what proportion out of borrowing.
Mr James Callaghan
Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, Member, Labour Party National Executive Committee
As the increase in expenditure is to be at the rate of 4·1 per cent. per annum for four years in succession, can the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether there has been any period in the lifetime of this Government since 1951 when they have managed to sustain a growth rate of 4·1 per cent. per annum for four successive years? If not, how does he propose that it should be financed by a Labour Government?
Mr John Boyd-Carpenter
, Kingston upon Thames
The hon. Gentleman has put the snag in the tail of that supplementary question. What is possible and will be achieved under the Conservatives would plainly be impossible under a Socialist Administration.
Sir Harry Hylton-Foster
, Cities of London and Westminster
Commander Kerans. Question No. 10.
Mr James Callaghan
Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, Member, Labour Party National Executive Committee
With respect, Mr. Speaker, we had seven supplementary questions about Covent Garden.
Sir Harry Hylton-Foster
, Cities of London and Westminster
Order. We are not making very good progress.
Mr Cyril Bence
, Dunbartonshire East
On a point of order.
Sir Harry Hylton-Foster
, Cities of London and Westminster
Order. In so far as we spread ourselves about Covent Garden, I accept the blame.
Mr Cyril Bence
, Dunbartonshire East
On a point of order. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply to both my Questions, I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.
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 Conservatives are a centre-right political party in the UK, founded in the 1830s. They are also known as the Tory party.
With a lower-case ‘c’, ‘conservative’ is an adjective which implies a dislike of change, and a preference for traditional values.
The Speaker is an MP who has been elected to act as Chairman during debates in the House of Commons. He or she is responsible for ensuring that the rules laid down by the House for the carrying out of its business are observed. It is the Speaker who calls MPs to speak, and maintains order in the House. He or she acts as the House's representative in its relations with outside bodies and the other elements of Parliament such as the Lords and the Monarch. The Speaker is also responsible for protecting the interests of minorities in the House. He or she must ensure that the holders of an opinion, however unpopular, are allowed to put across their view without undue obstruction. It is also the Speaker who reprimands, on behalf of the House, an MP brought to the Bar of the House. In the case of disobedience the Speaker can 'name' an MP which results in their suspension from the House for a period. The Speaker must be impartial in all matters. He or she is elected by MPs in the House of Commons but then ceases to be involved in party politics. All sides in the House rely on the Speaker's disinterest. Even after retirement a former Speaker will not take part in political issues. Taking on the office means losing close contact with old colleagues and keeping apart from all groups and interests, even avoiding using the House of Commons dining rooms or bars. The Speaker continues as a Member of Parliament dealing with constituent's letters and problems. By tradition other candidates from the major parties do not contest the Speaker's seat at a General Election. The Speakership dates back to 1377 when Sir Thomas Hungerford was appointed to the role. The title Speaker comes from the fact that the Speaker was the official spokesman of the House of Commons to the Monarch. In the early years of the office, several Speakers suffered violent deaths when they presented unwelcome news to the King. Further information can be obtained from factsheet M2 on the UK Parliament website.
