§ 64. Mr. Shinwellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has at his disposal full information on the state of our current invisible exports, the income from foreign investments and their value and the expected position of our income from foreign investments and invisible exports at the conclusion of hostilities; and whether, to enable hon. Members to form a judgment on the principles of international agreements on monetary and commercial matters, he will publish a White Paper giving the relevant facts?
§ Sir J. AndersonIt would not be in the national interest to publish such information at the present time.
§ Mr. ShinwellAs these very important subjects are certainly to become the subject of debate early in the forthcoming Session, is it not desirable that hon. Members should be informed of the facts, and, if it is not possible for the right hon. Gentleman to furnish all the information, cannot he furnish some estimate of the respective positions?
§ Sir J. AndersonI will certainly consider what can be done to facilitate debate, but I must adhere to my answer that the publication of exact figures at the present time would not be in the public interest.