HC Deb 13 April 1943 vol 388 cc1053-4
54. Sir P. Hannon

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any statement has been compiled, as at the latest convenient date, of the operations of what has become known as Lend-Lease in reverse; whether returns will be prepared for presentation to Parliament of the volume and value of supplies of all kinds related to war operations provided by His Majesty's Government for the naval, Army and air organisation of the United States of America in the European theatre of war; and whether the expenditure incurred is included in the day to day estimates of the cost of the war?

The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sir Kingsley Wood)

I referred yesterday in my Budget speech to the magnitude of the supplies provided by His Majesty's Government to the Forces of the U.S.A. by way of reciprocal aid, and I explained the reasons for which detailed accounting is not possible or desirable. Accordingly the answer to the first two parts of the Question is in the negative. The answer to the last part is in the affirmative.

Sir P. Hannon

Will the Chancellor take measures to make this statement made in the Budget speech known throughout the United States, in view of the misunderstanding there is that this country is not making its full reciprocal contribution to the Lend-Lease Agreement?

Mr. Stokes

Is the Chancellor aware that the United States Government have made a very wide and detailed statement of the amount of Lend-Lease by America to the United Nations, so why does he consider it not desirable to make it clear to the world what we are doing?

Sir K. Wood

I did refer to that matter.

Mr. Stokes

But very unsatisfactorily.