§ 45. Mr. AYLESasked the Prime Minister whether he will appoint a Royal Commission to review the whole question of the distribution of the national income and the extent to which it is possible to provide a living income for all, together with the possibility of granting family allowances?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not think that a Royal Commission would be the best body to throw light upon these very important questions.
§ Mr. AYLESMay I ask whether the Prime Minister has seen the financial and commercial review published by the "Times" newspaper to-day, and whether he has noticed in that review the great barrage against the present wage standard of the working classes which is foreshadowed, and whether he will see that when that takes place the House will have the facts, so that we may be able to avoid such a calamity to the country?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe facts are compiled very largely by expert bodies such as the Royal Statistical Society, and I do not think anything better can be done than is being done by these bodies.
§ Mr. AYLESMay I ask the Prime Minister whether he will ask his Economic Advisory Council to give him a report on the matter raised in the question?
§ The PRIME MINISTERSuch a report would be only extracts from and references to the valuable discussions which have taken place as to the present distribution of wealth in the country. No new light would be thrown upon it.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODAre we not going to get a report from this Economic Council, which was appointed to inquire into the conditions of the unemployed in this country, in order to find employment for them?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is another subject altogether.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODThe only way in which we can get an answer on this matter is by putting questions to the Prime Minister, and this is a very serious 398 matter affecting the working classes of the country.
§ Mr. SPEAKERIf the hon. Member will put a question down, he will no doubt get an answer.