§ 20. Sir T. Mooreasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any information about the estimated loss of foreign exchange which would be involved by abolishing the restriction on travel allowances altogether as compared with the increases to £100 and £70 as now contemplated.
§ Mr. MaudlingThe loss involved cannot be exactly calculated, but might be considerable.
§ Sir T. MooreWhile I am grateful for the recent concession and also for the consoling remarks of the Chancellor yesterday on the subject, may I ask my hon. Friend to bear in mind that increasing numbers of people in all walks of life in this country are now taking their holidays abroad and pay their own expenses? Does he realise the anxieties of these people about the difficulties they experience during these holidays through lack of currency?
§ Mr. MaudlingMy right hon. Friend was glad to be able to increase the amount, and hopes to be able to go 1365 further, but the increase in the travel allowance must be weighed against the other competing claims on the balance of payments.
§ 22. Mr. Grimondasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on travel allowances; and whether he will authorise a general allowance for the dollar area.
§ Mr. MaudlingMy right hon. Friend has no general statement to make. He will authorise a travel allowance for the dollar area as soon as he feels justified in doing so.
§ Mr. GrimondWhile thanking the Minister for this slight encouragement about the dollar area, may I ask him to press upon his right hon. Friend that very large sums of money are allowed for official travellers? Surely the time has come when a small sum should be allowed to ordinary people.
§ Mr. MaudlingMy right hon. Friend is anxious to grant a travel allowance for the dollar area as soon as possible, but we are still having to restrict a number of dollar imports of great importance, including some raw materials, machinery, and so on, and until the time comes when the Chancellor feels that it would be justified he cannot do anything about a travel allowance.
§ 26. Sir R. Aclandasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an estimate of the cost in foreign currency which will be involved in raising the basic travel allowance from £50 to £100.
§ Mr. MaudlingAbout £4 to £5 million.
§ Sir R. AclandWill the Minister tolerate a slightly involved question, arising from that brief answer? Now that we can spend this large sum on frivolities for certain people, can we take it that in future, when we are asking for much smaller sums for United Nations technical assistance and such like, it will no longer be the plea of the Government that they would like to make an increased contribution but cannot afford to do so, which answer suggests that the Government do not want to spend money on that kind of thing?
§ Mr. MaudlingI think the hon. Member has failed to distinguish between the Government spending the taxpayers' money and the Government allowing the taxpayers to spend their own money.