HC Deb 02 March 1937 vol 321 c177
51. Miss Cazalet

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in order to allay public uneasiness, he will consider issuing a White Paper stating the exact measures which the Government are taking to prevent excessive profits being made by contractors engaged in the Government's rearmament programme?

Mr. Chamberlain

I would invite my hon. Friend's attention to the statement I made on this subject in the Debate on the Second Reading of the Defence Loans Bill on 25th February. I do not consider that the issue of a White Paper is called for at the present time.

Sir Archibald Sinclair

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that the statement to which he refers has not allayed public uneasiness, as this question by the hon. Member shows, and will he therefore consider the suggestion made by the hon. Member and publish a White Paper?

Mr. Chamberlain

If the right hon. Gentleman can give me an assurance that the publication of a White Paper will allay what he describes as public uneasiness.

Sir A. Sinclair

If the right hon. Gentleman would show me a draft of the White Paper I might be able to give him that assurance.

Mr. T. Williams

Did the right hon. Gentleman hear the reply of the President of the Board of Trade with regard to the excessive increase in the price of glycerine, and will he take any steps in that matter?

Mr. Chamberlain

I understood my right hon. Friend to say that the rise in the price of glycerine had nothing whatever to do with the armament programme.