§ 66. Mr. De Chairasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the appointment of a Royal Commission with full powers, by calling witnesses from representative industries and financial undertakings then in operation, to investigate the precise causes of the last economic crisis and, by ascertaining the various factors which influenced the activities of individual concerns no less than the factors which determined the course of national and international economic policies, to make recommendations for preventing another economic crisis which might otherwise be expected in the normal course of the trade cycle?
§ Sir J. SimonI do not think that investigation by such a Royal Commission would seriously contribute to a solution of these problems. As my hon. Friend is aware, they have been engaging expert attention all over the world for years past, and it is the practice of the Government to take into the fullest account the resultant information.
§ Mr. De ChairDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that the appointment of some body to co-ordinate the results of these researches would be an advantage? Surely his own Department is interested in the task of balancing the Budget?