§ 55. Sir W. Smithersasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the weekly cost and total for 1947 of the expenses, including advertising, of publicity concerts and dances of the National Savings committees; and how were these expenses met.
§ Sir S. CrippsThe total cost of all social functions organised by local savings committees in England and Wales during the calendar year 1947, was £26,233, an average weekly cost of £504. These expenses were paid from the Vote of the National Savings Committee. To obtain separate figures for expenditure, including advertising, on concerts and dances would involve analysing over 1,300 local savings committee accounts. This would take up a disproportionate amount of official time.
§ Sir W. SmithersDoes the Chancellor think it right that the savings committees should expend the savings of people who are still willing to help the Government, and that the money should be spent so as to obtain more money for the Government so that they might enact and implement their disastrous experiments?
§ Sir S. CrippsYes, Sir.