HC Deb 30 November 1943 vol 395 cc199-200
56. Viscount Hinchingbrooke

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government have yet received a Report by Lord Keynes on the recent financial negotiations in Washington; and whether this Report will be published?

Sir J. Anderson

Reports upon these discussions have been received and are under consideration. As already indicated, the Government will in due course submit their conclusions to Parliament; but, in accordance with the usual practice where submissions by the Government's technical advisers are concerned, the reports themselves will not be published.

Mr. Boothby

Would the right hon. Gentleman give further consideration to the question of whether these conclusions will be submitted in the form of a statement to the House or in the form of a written document? In reply to a Question the other day he said that he would consider issuing them in writing.

Sir J. Anderson

I will later on. I shall endeavour to meet the wishes of the House.

Mr. Stokes

Will the Chancellor bear in mind the categorical assurance by his predecessor that no undertaking of any kind will be given to a return to gold in any form without first consulting the House?

Sir J. Anderson

I have repeated those assurances myself.

Mr. Hammersley

Do we understand that we shall not be faced with definite conclusions but that the matter will come forward in a way in which the opinion of the House can be taken?

Sir J. Anderson

The House will not be faced with commitments. I hope that the conclusions which will be put to the House will be as definite as possible.

Mr. Shinwell

If conclusions are to be submitted to the House are not Members entitled to have the information and the facts before them on which these conclusions are based?

Sir J. Anderson

I will endeavour to see that the House has full information.