46. Mr. MACLEANasked the Prime Minister the fall in the value of the pound since Thursday, 17th September; and whether, in view of the resulting increase in the cost of living in this country, he will reconsider the threatened cut in unemployment benefit and in the other services?
§ The LORD PRESIDENT of the COUNCIL (Mr. Stanley Baldwin)As regards the external value of the pound, the bon. Member must form his own judgment from the various published exchange quotations. As regards the rest of the question, I would refer to the answer given by me yesterday in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Kettering (Mr. Perry).
Mr. MACLEANAs the Prime Minister himself based the justification for the cut in unemployment benefit on the fact that the cost-of-living had fallen by 11½ per cent., is it not now justifiable to remove that cut when the cost of living is increased by 10 per cent.?
§ Mr. BALDWINI think that at present the suggestion of the hon. Member is in the region of hypothesis. The facts are against him, and I am sure he will agree with that distinguished philosopher who said that there was no greater tragedy than to see a hypothesis killed by a fact.
Mr. MACLEANThe right hon. Gentleman will see his hypothesis killed by my facts if he will accompany me to any working-class district to-night.
§ Mr. PERRYHas the right hon. Gentleman now confirmed the information which I tried to convey to him yesterday, that one of the largest firms of millers in this country increased their price by 2s. 3d. per sack?
§ Mr. BALDWINI have nothing to add to what I said yesterday.