§ I have now completed my necessarily condensed general review of a period of economic and financial problems unprecedented in their size and complexity. In all we have done we have had three essentials in mind. First, we have sought to assist the war effort by ensuring that war production suffers no hindrances from unsound economic conditions. Secondly, we have endeavoured to do this in such a way that our people, united in the firm will to work and produce to the utmost, may be secure in the knowledge that their standard of living will not be filched away by rising prices. Thirdly, we have sought so to order our economy now that the inevitable consequences of the war will 955 prejudice as little as possible our financial and economic ability to engage ourselves in those progressive developments which we all desire to achieve and upon which we are already engaged. We must steadily continue with those objectives, but I think it can be said without exaggeration that with the full co-operation of our people a large measure of success has already been obtained in all these vital and far reaching matters.
§ I think hon. Members will find, when we come to consider the financial prospects for this year, that it will be convenient to have the corresponding figures for 1942 more or less fresh in their minds. Accordingly, in order not to disturb the continuity of our review of 1942 and 1943, I will refer now to one or two taxation matters of general interest not directly related to the finances of any particular year, and I will mention certain amendments which I am proposing to make in the taxation law, and also certain changes in Post Office charges.