59. Mr. ALLENasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether His Majesty's Government will consider setting up a commission to inquire into the effect on the national economy of the export of wealth involved in the purchase of articles of luxury of foreign manufacture and in the growing annual expenditure of the well-to-do classes of this country on the Continent of Europe?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCENo, Sir. From the taxation aspect which seems to be the aspect of practical importance, these matters have been repeatedly considered from 1918 onwards, and I do not think a theoretical inquiry would serve any useful purpose.
Mr. ALLENCan the hon. Gentleman say whether the millions spent abroad every year are part of the invisible exports which are supposed to be so beneficial to the British trader?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEI do not think that that arises out of this question.