Mr Francis Douglas: If the Chancellor of the Exchequer wishes to take cognisance of the view expressed, I would respectfully suggest that it could be done very simply by making the duration of the regulations, which are the effective instrument under Clause 1, four years and then he could consider, at the end of that time, whether they should be renewed or not.
Mr Francis Douglas: The hon. Member for The Wrekin (Mr. Colegate) has, by his speech, completely destroyed the Amendment. In the first place, I do not know how anyone is to interpret the word "advantageous." He himself explained that mere cheapness is not necessarily advantageous, and it seems that whoever would have to make the decision upon this matter, if this Amendment were carried, would have to do so on...
Mr Francis Douglas: asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the whole of the nominal capital of the Finance Corporation for Industry, Limited, and of the Industrial and Finance Corporation, Limited, respectively, will be issued; whether the shares will be fully paid; whether the issue will be subject to the consent of the Capital Issues Committee; and whether loans made by these two companies will be...
Mr Francis Douglas: Has not the right hon. Gentleman been consulted about the matter referred to in the first two parts of the Question?
Mr Francis Douglas: asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the operations of the Finance Corporation for Industry, Limited, and of the Industrial and Finance Corporation, Limited, respectively, will be confined to the making of loans, or whether they will undertake the purchase of shares in other undertakings.
Mr Francis Douglas: asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any statement to make on his talks with the French Minister of Finance.
Mr Francis Douglas: asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether his attention has been called to the recent alterations of the rules of the Stock Exchange requiring, in respect of new issues of stocks and shares, a larger disclosure of information regarding the financial position of the company; and whether he has considered the advisability of introducing legislation requiring similar disclosure in...
Mr Francis Douglas: asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any statement to make on the proposed withdrawal of Bank of England notes of denominations above £5; and whether it is proposed to replace any part of the notes withdrawn by either £5 notes or £1 notes.
Mr Francis Douglas: asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Arnold urban council has considered the purchase of land in Breck Hill Road for a branch library, and that the district valuer was prepared to recommend the purchase at the price agreed upon by the committee; whether he can state the area of this land, its rateable value, and the price it was proposed to pay; and what the result of the...
Mr Francis Douglas: asked the Minister of Health whether sanction has now been given for the acquisition by the Worthing Town Council of land adjoining Harrington Road area for building houses; what is the area of the land involved and the rateable value at which it has heretofore been assessed; and what price is being paid.
Mr Francis Douglas: asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that Eastbourne council has been negotiating with the Chatsworth Estates Company for the purchase, for housing purposes, of land at the junction of Churchdale Road and Northbourne Road; that the district valuer was unable to agree a purchase price with the Chatsworth Estates and the company were unwilling to consent for the case to be submitted...
Mr Francis Douglas: asked the Secretary of State for Air why he refuses to consider the release from the R.A.F. of building trade workers capable of assisting in the repair of bomb damage.
Mr Francis Douglas: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his colleague the Minister of Works informed me that no releases were being made from the R.A.F.?
Mr Francis Douglas: The Bill proposes to make a very drastic change in the methods of local authorities' capital finance. It will take away from them almost completely the freedom which they have in the past enjoyed to manage these matters as they have thought best. The independence and the autonomy of local authorities are something which they cherish very deeply. Nevertheless, in the discussions which have...
Mr Francis Douglas: asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the lack of newspapers, the need for wireless sets capable of picking up home broadcasts and the delay in the receipt of mails for some of the British Forces in Greece; and what is being done to remedy this.
Mr Francis Douglas: Is my right hon. Friend aware that the complaint is not about the quality of the sets but about their scarcity?
Mr Francis Douglas: Does the Deputy Prime Minister's statement affect the latter portion of the speech made by the Prime Minister on the Second Reading of the Prolongation Bill with regard to the dissolution of the National Government and the formation of a new Government? Will that take place upon the date when the announcement is made?
Mr Francis Douglas: To-day's Debate has made it clear that hon. Members of all parties in this House are deeply concerned about the housing problem. Of all the domestic issues which confront us, there is none which is so urgent and so important for the well-being of our people. It ought not to be forgotten that it took the whole of the 20 years between the two wars, to relieve the housing situation sufficiently...
Mr Francis Douglas: Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman also look into the position in South London?
Mr Francis Douglas: Hacking asked the Secretary of State for War to what extent service respirators are to be withdrawn from the Home Guard; to whom they will be reissued; and what form of respirators will replace those withdrawn from the Home Guard.