§ 49. Mr. LAMBERTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can, without prejudice to its operations, state whether the Exchange Equalisation Fund has been used in recent months for purchasing gold to be stored in the Bank of England?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI fear that I can only repeat what has already been stated in the House on a number of occasions, that it would be contrary to public policy to reveal the manner in which the Exchange Equalisation Account has been used.
§ Mr. LAMBERTMay we have an assurance that the taxpayers' money is not being used for the purchase of gold which is quite unreliable au a standard of value?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAThe Government were given certain powers by the House of Commons, and they will exercise them with discretion and responsibility.