§ The ultimate protection against want in this country is National Assistance. I have no doubt that the National Assistance Board will take cognisance of my proposals on food subsidies and will make appropriate recommendations to the Government in due course. I cannot anticipate what they will propose. But I do not intend that compensatory actions for the steps I have just announced should be limited to this ultimate recourse against want.
§ I therefore come to the first congenial task which has fallen to my lot since I became Chancellor—that is to allot to my colleagues principally concerned sufficient funds to carry out some much-needed reforms.