§ 39. Mr. HAMMERSLEYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an undertaking to the House that sterling will not be linked to gold in advance of the dollar being linked to gold?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAMy right hon. Friend has on a number of occasions expressed the view of His Majesty's Government that, although a return to the Gold standard might be our ultimate objective when proper conditions were assured, we must reserve complete liberty to choose both our own time and parity. He does not think he can usefully add anything to that statement now.
§ Mr. HAMMERSLEYIs my hon. Friend aware of the large volume of business opinion in this country which feels that an attempt to stabilise the means of exchange without first of all ensuring that there is an adequate, volume of trade, would be a reversal of the proper procedure and one which would be very harmful to our commercial interests?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAThe views which my hon. Friend so frequently expresses have been noted.