HC Deb 04 December 1956 vol 561 cc1041-2
40. Mr. Lewis

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation whereby all persons, who have as a result of petrol rationing suffered a financial loss, or loss of work, business or profits, due to the economic effects arising from the Suez Canal crisis, will be able to make a claim for financial reimbursement from the Treasury.

Mr. H. Brooke

No, Sir

Mr. Lewis

Surely the Financial Secretary is aware of the fact that millions of people—middle-class people and poor people, small businessmen—are suffering and will suffer even more because of the stupid policy of the Government? Are we now to take it that the ordinary people have to pay for this stupidity when it has been the Suez rebels who have been responsible for it?

Mr. Brooke

That is a very large supplementary question. I shall not go into the whole history of the Suez crisis, but ask the hon. Member to address himself to the practical question. Does he really imagine it would be possible to distinguish in any case how much financial profit or loss has followed from Suez affairs and how much has occurred from everything else which is going on in the world at the present time?