§ 52. Mr. STEPHENasked the Prime Minister is he is aware that already there has been a substantial rise in the cost of living owing to the failure to maintain the Gold Standard; and whether the Government propose to pass legislation before the close of the present Session to protect the real wages of the workers in this country?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, as I have already said in a reply which I have just given, I hope there will be no outbreak of exploitation, but if the necessity should arise the Government would not hesitate to seek adequate powers.
§ Mr. STEPHENDid the right hon. Gentleman not say that if there was a departure from the Gold Standard, the unemployed would not be able to get their 17s. worth of goods for their 17s.; and was his former statement all nonsense?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIf the hon. Member quotes me, he should quote me accurately and not select those parts which suit himself. There were the conditions that there should be a balanced Budget and that there should not be heavy borrowing ahead.
§ Mr. MARLEYAre we to assume from that, that the Budget is balanced and that there has not been heavy borrowing ahead?