§ 37. Mr. E. Johnsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount repaid in post-war credits during 1956; and what is the amount now outstanding.
§ Mr. PowellThe amount of post-war credits repaid in the calendar year 1956 was approximately £17.4 million. The total amount now outstanding is estimated at about £466 million.
§ Mr. JohnsonDoes not my hon. Friend think that it is altogether deplorable that successive post-war Governments have withheld this vast sum of money from the people to whom they owe it while at the same time insisting on the prompt payment of taxation and other debts? Further, may I ask whether he could once again consider this question of the prompt payment of post-war credits in case of hardship, which could quite easily be defined through the machinery of National Assistance?
§ Mr. PowellThe question of the future of post-war credits is one within the scope of the Budget which I must not anticipate, but my hon. Friend will, no doubt, recall that the conditions of repayment of these credits have been greatly improved since the party opposite went out of office.
Mr. WilsonSince we no longer expect Her Majesty's Government to take much account of the views of the House of Commons on these questions, will the hon. Gentleman at least take action on the decision—if one can use that word—of the Tory Party Conference of two years ago, which would appear to be quite mandatory on hon. Members opposite? If he desires to know how to implement what I am sure is the will of the entire House in this respect, will he look at the advice given by the Leader of the Opposition in April, 1955, on how best this question could be dealt with?