§ 20. Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission or a Departmental Committee to consider what action shall be taken to avoid further inflation and achieve a gradual reduction in costs.
§ Mr. BirchI would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer which I gave to the right hon. Gentleman, the Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell)on 11th July.
§ Mr. Ellis SmithIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that those of us who were in Germany during the days when inflation ran mountain high are becoming very concerned about the growing inflation in this country? Has not the time arrived to take action instead of having so much talk?
§ Mr. BirchThis is a matter which we are about to debate. The hon. Member has often made very valuable contributions to our economic debates and I hope that he will be able to do so today and put the hon. Member for Coventry, East (Mr. Crossman)in his place.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that my proposal the other day about the appointment of an impartial body to consider inflation and its consequences is now being supported by many eminent industrialists, financiers, sociologists, including Lord Beveridge, and others? Is there any reason why a body of this kind should not be competent enough to make recommendations on the subject?
§ Mr. BirchThis is the same Question which the right hon. Gentleman raised the other day. I answered then that I thought that a Royal Commission or a Select Committee was not suitable to deal with the wide-ranging implications of such an inquiry.