HC Deb 28 January 1930 vol 234 c844
52. Major NATHAN

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is able to state the approximate amount of the national income for each of the years 1927, 1928 and 1929, and the figures on a comparable basis for 1900 and 1913?

Mr. P. SNOWDEN

I regret that no official estimates are available for these years.

Major NATHAN

May I respectfully ask whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer will consider the advisability of submitting this matter to the Economic Advisory Council?

Mr. SNOWDEN

The only official figures available are based upon returns of 1924. These have not yet been officially published, but a paper was recently react before the Royal Statistical Society based upon these figures which gave as the national income in 1924, after making allowance for possible errors to the extent of £225,000,000, an estimate of just under £4,000,000,000.

Mr. THORNE

Is there any truth in the statement that the national income has doubled?

Mr. KIRKWOOD

Seeing that we have an income of £4,000,000,000, why can we not afford £l per week for the unemployed?