§ MR. J. G. HUBBARDasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether, in view of the extraordinary expenditure which must be incurred in this and immediately succeeding years, he will, in framing his financial propositions, while maintaining the principle of a gradual reduction of debt, consider the expediency of mitigating the pressure on the taxpayer, and will therefore limit the sum to be raised by direct and indirect taxation to a moiety or less of the extraordinary supplies required, and provide the residue by relaxing the operations for redemption of the National Debt?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)My right hon. Friend will perhaps permit me to reply to his Question by another. Did he ever during his 26 years of Parliamentary experience know a Chancellor of the Exchequer to give to Parliament in answer to Questions a portion of the Budget a month before the delivery of the Financial Statement? I am afraid that I can give him no information in reply to this Question.
§ MR. J. G. HUBBARDsaid, the right hon. Gentleman entirely misunderstood his object, which was not to ask him what he was going to propose, but to insure the consideration of the matter beforehand.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)said, he would always consider anything proposed by his right hon. Friend; but he thought the Question was something more than a suggestion.