Road Haulage Lorries (Purchase Loans) (Hansard, 20 April 1953)

§ 51. Mr. CALLAGHAN
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what considerations of national interest have led the Government to advise the banks that loans advanced by them for the purchase of lorries from the Road Haulage Executive are to be regarded as having the same priority as loans to encourage exports to dollar countries.

§ Mr. Callaghan
On a point of order. This Question was put down to the Prime Minister, in view of the response we had last Thursday to a Question asking the Treasury to reverse their decision. Now I see that there is a representative of the Treasury again here—presumably to give the same sort of answer—but as he is not a Member of the Cabinet he cannot be responsible for their decision. [HON. MEMBERS: "The Chancellor is here."] If the Chancellor is here to answer the Question, I am very much obliged to him.

§ The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. R. A. Butler)
The Government have not advised the banks to give the same priority to loans for the purchase of these lorries as to loans for the export trade. They have advised the banks that it would be consistent with Government policy that loans for such purchases should be made in suitable cases. It is, of course, in the national interest that road transport, by being returned to private enterprise, should be able to give increased help to industry in general whether at home or in efforts to increase exports.

§ Mr. Callaghan
Is it not a fact, as the Government spokesman said in the House of Lords—and I am not quoting, but merely referring to what was said— that exports for dollar purposes are to receive only the same degree of priority as credits for the purchase of these vehicles?

§ Mr. Butler
No, Sir. I am content to leave this discrimination to the banks, and I am perfectly satisfied that they will so discriminate that our export trade is regarded perpetually as our most important concern.

§ Mr. H. Morrison
May I ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether or not he identifies himself with the statement on policy which was made in another place by a Member of the Government on this matter?

§ Mr. Butler
My answer to that is that I cannot refer to what was said in another place as I am answering in the House of Commons, but I would add that all statements of Government policy are endorsed by Her Majesty's Government.

§ Mr. Callaghan
As all statements of policy are endorsed by Her Majesty's Government, is the country to take it that export business which demands credit will get the same facilities only as for purchasing lorries in the break-up of the Road Haulage Executive?

§ Mr. Butler
I have already given my answer to that point, which is that I regard export as the first priority, and I am sure the whole House agrees with me in stating that. I have also given my answer to this specific matter, which is that it is in the national interest, and that is our sole governing consideration. I think that my answer is unchallengeable.

§ Mr. H. Morrison
Is the Chancellor of the Exchequer aware that when my hon. Friend put a question to the Chancellor last week it was answered by the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, who was completely flummoxed—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."] Yes, he was—as to whether to identify himself with the comment made by a Member of the Government in another place on the Transport Bill? May we assume absolutely that the Chancellor identifies himself with the statement made in another place, which indicated that these investments were on an absolute equality with dollar and export expenditure?

§ Mr. Butler
It is very difficult for ordinary people to interpret exactly the manner in which these priorities are interpreted by the banks. I am very well satisfied that the banks have carried out, in general, the policy of Her Majesty's Government, which is to give first 644 priority to exports, and that I repeat now. As regards statements made in another place, I can only repeat what I said earlier, that Her Majesty's Government speak with one voice.

§ Mr. Bowles
On a point of order. Might I have your ruling, Mr. Speaker? Am I not correct in saying that statements of policy in another place are quotable verbatim in this House?

§ Mr. Speaker
The general rule is that reference should not be made to debates in another place except on matters on which a Minister in another place makes a statement on Government policy.