Defence Expenditure

HC Deb 19 September 1950 vol 478 cc1713-4

37. Mr. Donner

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent he proposes to defray the cost of rearmament by cuts in expenditure.

Mr. Gaitskell

I regret that I cannot anticipate the details of the Estimates which will be presented to Parliament in due course.

Mr. Donner

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind, as the Prime Minister has admitted, that failure to cut expenditure now is to play the Communist game?

Mr. Gaitskell

It is obvious that, in view of additional heavy defence expenditure, every possible economy will be necessary.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Will my right hon. Friend say what savings would be effected in the capital investment programme by withdrawing or postponing licences granted by the Minister of Works for shop and office buildings, such as the £230,000 licence recently granted for such premises in Brixton?

Mr. Gaitskell

That is a matter on which I touched in my speech last week.