HC Deb 16 September 1931 vol 256 cc819-20
47. Mr. WISE

asked the Prime Minister on what date or dates the Economic Council or any committee or members of it were consulted concerning the measures to be adopted for dealing with the financial crisis?

The PRIME MINISTER

The proceedings of the Economic Advisory Council and of its committees are confidential; and I am not, therefore, prepared to add anything to the answer which I gave the hon. Member in reply to a similar question on Monday last.

Mr. WISE

Would it not be better for the Prime Minister frankly to admit that the Economic Council was not consulted rather than continue to evade the question?

The PRIME MINISTER

I should not make any such statement, which would not be true.

Mr. WISE

Will the Prime Minister say which is untrue, the statement that he has evaded the issue or the statement that the Economic Council were not consulted?

Mr. MACLEAN

In view of the widespread effect that the recommendations of the Economic Council have upon the nation, would it not be a wise thing for the Prime Minister to issue a report of the findings of the Economic Council and also the reasons for those findings?

The PRIME MINISTER

I am afraid that that question has been answered by the first answer that I gave to the question on the Paper.