§ 51. Mr. Osborneasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the United Kingdom's dollar earnings for 1950 so far are sufficient to make up for the smaller allocation of Marshall Aid to be received.
§ Sir S. CrippsI gave figures on 5th July for net earnings of gold and dollars in the first six months of 1950. I do not know what E.R.P. aid will be allocated to us in the future.
§ Mr. OsborneThe figures which the Chancellor gave to us recently were for the whole sterling area. Is the Chancellor aware that what the House wants to know is what are the United Kingdom earnings in dollars? Surely he must have the E.C.A. figures? Can he tell the House whether the country is better off today than it was last year with regard to its net dollar earnings?
§ Sir S. CrippsI have told the hon. Member three times now that the detailed figures are not yet available and that when they are, they will be published.
§ Mr. OsborneIs the Chancellor aware that he keeps giving the same answer that we shall have the figures in due course, and that that will be in six months' time, when all the interest will have gone from the question?