§ 63. Sir W. Smithersasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, when issuing statements about the amounts subscribed by the public to savings weeks and small savings, he will give in greater detail the sources of these savings.
§ The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Dalton)No, Sir. The hon. Member's suggestion would involve much additional work, which would not, in my view, be justified.
§ Sir W. SmithersWould it not be fairer to try to present these figures in some form which would show how much per week was new money, and how much per week was merely the transference of old savings?
§ Mr. DaltonIt is quite impossible to say that without cross-examining everybody who subscribes to National Savings, and I am not prepared to do that.
§ Mr. StokesIf the Minister would turn to the banks, they could quite easily give him that information.
§ Mr. DaltonNo, Sir, the hon. Gentleman is absolutely wrong. To carry out the suggestions made by the two hon. Members would involve an inquisition into the means of the patriotic people who subscribed.
§ Colonel Oliver StanleyWill the right hon. Gentleman remember that statement in connection with Clause 4 of the Bank of England Bill?