§ 47. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the advance in the price of petrol owing to price-fixing agreements between the oil combines; and whether he will take the possibility of further increases in prices of petrol into consideration in framing the Budget for next year?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLYes, Sir. Naturally I shall take all these matters into consideration.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYDoes that mean that the action of this "ring" will affect the right hon. Gentleman's Budget?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNaturally, I cannot give any indication of what the course of the decision which will be taken in regard to the Budget for next year will be, but I may say that there are on the Paper several questions addressed to various Departments—
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYNot for to-day.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNo, not for to-day. I think they are mainly for Thursday. The Government will take an opportunity in regard to those questions to make a comprehensive reply.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWas not the right hon. Gentleman very clearly warned last year when the marketing arrangements—
§ Mr. SPEAKERMr. Hore-Belisha!
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the very serious effect this rise in price is having on the motor industry?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLYes, Sir; I am left in no doubt of that from the columns of the daily newspapers.
Commander LOCKER-LAMPSONIf there is any further reduction of taxa 203 tion on oil or petrol, will the right hon. Gentleman see that it does not apply to any coming from Russia?
§ Mr. GEOFFREY PETOIs not this the case of a capitalist combine formed by the Russian Soviet Government?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe original question refers to the Budget for next year, and I do not see that these supplementary questions have any bearing upon it.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYAm I not in order in asking the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he did not receive warning of this last year when the amalgamation took place?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat has nothing to do with the Budget for next year.