HC Deb 03 February 1948 vol 446 c1642
74. Major Legge-Bourke

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what steps are being taken to ensure that any money collected in this country for arms for Jews in Palestine is not exported.

Mr. Glenvil Hall

There is no power, under the law as it stands, to prevent the remittance of money through normal banking channels to Palestine or any other scheduled territory.

Major Legge-Bourke

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that, according to my information, a fund of £200,000 has been opened in Shoreditch by a so-called Jewish welfare committee with the object of paying for arms for Jews in Palestine, and that the first £100,000 was subscribed in the first 10 days? Will not the right hon. Gentleman look into this again with a view to seeing whether there is some way to prevent such money leaving the country?

Mr. Glenvil Hall

Yes, but I have intimated that we have no power to prevent money from being transferred in this way. Palestine is a scheduled territory.

Mr. Mikardo

Will my right hon. Friend take action for which he has powers to ensure that the money of British taxpayers is not spent to provide arms for any of the peoples of the Middle East?

Mr. Glenvil Hall

That is another question.