§ Mr. BRIDGEMANasked the Prime Minister if he has taken into consideration the position in which the House is placed in all financial discussions by the fact that the conduct of business is in the hands of a Member of the Government who has not the power or responsibility of Cabinet rank; and if he will undertake that some Member of the Cabinet shall always be present during debates on finance?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe absence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer from the recent discussions on the Revenue Bill was due to an unavoidable, and I hope and believe, a transient cause. His place in Committee was most ably filled by the Secretary to the Treasury, who of necessity was more familiar with the technical aspects of the Bill than any of his colleagues in the Cabinet. I have every reason for hoping that when we resume financial debate the Chancellor of the Exchequer will be in his place.
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the question of giving command pay to the right hon. Gentleman for undertaking these duties?
§ Mr. W. R. PEELIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Secretary to the Treasury has not the authority to make the concessions which a Member of the Cabinet would naturally make in response to the arguments of the Opposition.
§ Mr. MacNEILLAs a matter of practice observed by both parties when the Chancellor of the Exchequer is ill have not his duties invariably been carried on by the Secretary to the Treasury, and have not, on two occasions within recent memory, Budgets been introduced in this House by the Secretary to the Treasury on one side and on the other in the absence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am sure my hon. Friend is right. He always is.