HC Deb 17 March 1931 vol 249 cc1858-9
54. Mr. ALBERY

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury when the report of the Committee on Banking Finance and Credit is likely to be issued?

Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCE

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the right hon. Gentleman, the Member for Darwen (Sir H. Samuel) on the 19th February.

Mr. HANNON

Is it not very important that we should have this report before the Budget is introduced? It is most important that we should hear from this Committee before we consider the financial proposals for the year.

Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCE

The matter does not rest with my right hon. Friend. It rests with the members of the Committee, and, so far as I can see, I cannot give any date when the report will be available.

Sir HERBERT SAMUEL

Can the Financial Secretary say whether there is any prospect of the report being received this year?

Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCE

Oh, yes; I think that is quite certain.

Mr. WISE

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether it is the case that the Committee has only met once, or at the most twice, during the last three months?

Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCE

I have no information about the sittings of the Committee, and, if my hon. Friend wishes to pursue that inquiry, perhaps he will put a question down on the Order Paper.

Mr. R. A. TAYLOR

Will the hon. Member convey to the Chancellor of the Exchequer the desire in all parts of the House for an early publication of this report?

Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCE

I think my right hon. Friend is quite aware of that desire, and I have no doubt that the Committee is also aware of it. At the present moment I cannot go beyond the answer which I have given.

Mr. C. WILLIAMS

Has the Committee ever met?

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