HC Deb 26 January 1937 vol 319 c738
54. Mr. De Chair

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the recent budget proposals of the Swedish Finance Minister under which the Swedish Government are taking definite steps to counteract the normal succession of events associated with a trade cycle; and whether His Majesty's Government propose to take any specific action to prevent a recurrence of conditions which might be considered likely to produce an economic crisis similar to that of 1931?

Mr. Chamberlain

I have only seen a report in the Press, which indicates that in the opinion of the Swedish Finance Minister no positively restrictive measures are required at the present moment, though he deprecated any reduction in the existing rates of taxation and expressed his intention of using caution in raising Government loans for investing in new enterprises. In reply to the second part of the question, my hon. Friend may be assured that general questions of this character are kept constantly under review.

Mr. Pethick-Lawrence

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear the matter in mind in framing his Budget proposals?

Lieut.-Colonel Acland-Troyte

And will he see that no Socialist Government is again returned to power?