§ 59. Sir Hugh Lucas-Toothasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is now in a position to say what permission is required for the transmission of funds by a British trade union to persons overseas; whether he is aware that the Executive of the Scottish branch of the National Union of Mineworkers has announced its intention to send £1,000 to French miners on strike; and whether any permission to do so has yet been granted.
§ Sir S. CrippsThe permission of the Treasury is required under Section 6 of the Exchange Control Act for the making of gifts to non-residents. Permission is granted in appropriate cases for the transmission of moneys collected for charitable purposes. The present application is described as being for the purpose of purchasing food and clothing for the miners and their dependents, and, on the understanding that the gift is for bona fide charitable purposes, I have decided to allow it. On balance of payments grounds there is no serious objection to the transfer.
§ Sir H. Lucas-ToothIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that it has been widely stated that the purpose of this gift is in order to enable the strike to be continued in France?
§ Sir S. CrippsI am not aware that what is widely stated is always accurate.
§ Mr. Oliver StanleyHas the right hon. and learned Gentleman borne in mind the speech which he himself made to this House only last week and is he not assisting the furtherance of that cold war to which he referred?
§ Sir S. CrippsI have borne that in mind and I have also borne in mind the question of how far the existing regulations may be used for purposes of this kind.
§ Mr. Platts-MillsMay I remind the right hon. and learned Gentleman of the speech he made in 1926 and the great approval which that speech still commands on this side of the House?