§ 63. Mr. Nigel Birchasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what increase has taken place during 1946 in holdings by Government or Government-controlled institutions and agencies in British Government, municipal, dominion and colonial securities having a currency of more than one year.
§ Mr. DaltonI do not propose to add further to the information already regularly published regarding the securities held by Government Departments.
§ Mr. BirchDoes the Chancellor not consider it desirable that he should give the same information to this House as he gives to the City of London?
§ Mr. DaltonIf the hon. Member will put down a Question on the subject I shall be very glad to repeat here what I said to the bankers and merchants. That is quite a different thing from giving information which would be contrary to all precedent. In that matter I am a good Conservative.
§ Mr. EcclesWill the Chancellor give us an assurance that he will tell us what proportion of the local loans is taken up by the public and what proportion is taken up by Government Departments?
§ Mr. DaltonNone of my illustrious predecessors would have revealed such information. Neither shall I.