48. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can make some statement to summarise the steps which have been taken to facilitate the establishment of war-time economy in the United Kingdom.
§ Sir J. SimonAs my hon. Friend will appreciate, most of the legislative activity of the last three or four weeks has been directed to adapting the economic organisation of this country to a war-time basis. I would particularly draw my hon. Friend's attention to the measures in the Emergency Statutory Rules and Orders dealing with finance and currency, the cultivation of land, the control of railways and of traffic at ports, the control of the prices of various commodities and the steps taken with a view to rationing motor fuel, household fuel and, in due course, certain articles of food.
Mr. De la BèreIs my right hon. Friend aware that the worst offenders in this respect are the Government Departments which are unwieldy and are ever increasing and is it not really officialdom run mad? There is no economy there.