§ 68. Lieut.-Colonel HODGEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the advisability of appointing a Royal Commission to inquire into the best means of liquidating in whole or in greater part the National Debt?
§ Mr. SNOWDENI propose to appoint a Treasury Committee, with the following terms of reference:
To consider and report on the National Debt and on the incidence of existing taxation, with special reference to their effect on trade, industry, employment and national credit.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HODGEHas the right hon. Gentleman yet decided who the members of this Committee shall be, and, if so, will he give the House the names?
§ Mr. SNOWDENOf course, as the House will realise, it takes considerable time to communicate with the various people, and some whom I have invited to join are out of the country at present. But I can assure the House that there will be no avoidable delay, and when the Committee has been constituted, I will communicate the names to the House at once.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HODGEMight I ask the right hon. Gentleman—I do not want to press him if he does not care to answer now—if the Government intend to abide by the Report made by that Committee?