§ 56. Sir BERTRAM FALLEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has yet acted upon the intimation made to him by the Manchester Chamber of Commerce on 15th September that the 203 world supply of gold was not adequate for the world's productive capacity; whether he has carried out the request of that body that the Macmillan Committee should study the matter and report at once; and, if he has, will he, in due course, make known what the Macmillan Committee suggests should be done to render the supply of gold adequate?
§ Mr. P. SNOWDENI have no doubt that the matters referred to by the Manchester Chamber of Commerce will be considered by the Macmillan Committee, but I have not made any request to that Committee to report specially on this question at once. As the hon. Member is aware the problem is an international one.
§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEMay I ask when the Chancellor of the Exchequer expects to receive the report of that Committee?
§ Mr. SNOWDENThat is dealt with in another question.
§ 57. Mr. MORLEYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to receive the report of the Macmillan Committee of Inquiry into Finance and Industry?
§ 59. Major NATHANasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to receive the report of the Committee on Finance and Industry?
§ 60. Mr. WHITEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Macmillan Committee on Credit and Banking Policy has made its report?
§ Mr. P. SNOWDENThe Committee is proceeding with its inquiry with all possible despatch, but I am unable to say by what date it will find it possible to complete its report.
§ Mr. MORLEYWill the right hon. Gentleman ask the Committee to issue an interim report dealing particularly with the fall in prices?
§ Mr. SNOWDENThat matter has been considered, but they say that they find these questions so interlocked that it is quite impossible to send in a useful interim report.
§ 65. Sir JOHN FERGUSONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has yet received from the Manchester Chamber of Commerce any suggestion as to how the Government should carry out the wishes expressed in the memorandum from that body to the Prime Minister, dated 15th September, which asked him to set up an inquiry by the Macmillan Committee for the purpose of finding a remedy for the inadequacy of the production of gold?
§ Mr. P. SNOWDENNo, Sir; I have received no suggestion from the Manchester Chamber of Commerce on this subject since they submitted their memorandum to the Prime Minister in September last.