HC Deb 15 October 1942 vol 383 cc1766-7
66. Professor Savory

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the official statement made in the Chamber of Deputies in Dublin by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance that £300,000 a month in money orders and postal orders are being received in Eire out of wages earned in Great Britain; and whether, as this money would be better employed if invested in war savings in the United Kingdom, he will take steps to prevent this export?

Sir K. Wood

No, Sir. The only result of such an action would be to cut off the supply of labour coming from Eire, which would not be to our advantage.

Professor Savory

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance for Eire said in the Chamber of Deputies that this British money was irredeemable paper and might be thrown into the waste-paper basket? Why not block a currency which our Southern Irish friends consider to be worthless?

Mr. Shinwen

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that if the money is left in this country and invested, we shall require to pay interest on it?