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Motion made, and Question proposed,
That a sum, not exceeding £1,059,600, be granted to Her Majesty, to complete the sum necessary to defray the charge which will come
| That this House, recognising the serious effect of unstable prices of raw materials and crops on the wellbeing of the Commonwealth and the trade of the United Kingdom, calls upon Her Majesty's Government to pursue policies that will help to stabilise prices of primary products and expand trade; and, to this end, make further provision for economic aid to promote the welfare of colonial peoples. |
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The Chancellor of the Exchequer, last Friday, forecast to the National Production Advisory Council for Industry that there would be widespread falls in prices over the next few months, on the ground that the prices of raw materials are 11 per cent. below their level of a year ago. That is the obverse of the medal that appears on the Order Paper today, in the form of a Motion that recognises—and this is common to Members on both sides of the House
the serious effect of unstable prices of raw materials and crops on the well-being of the Commonwealth and the trade of the United Kingdom …
§ It is the fact that the improvement that has taken place in our balance of payments over the last twelve months has been purchased to a considerable extent at the expense of the Commonwealth.
§ I must say, in passing, however, that I wonder which Government view really holds the day—whether we are to have a decrease in prices or whether we are not. The Chancellor says that we can expect widespread falls in prices over the next few months, but only as recently as April the President of the Board of Trade, whom we all admire for his perspicacity in these matters, was telling us that we could not expect any decreases in prices.
§ I do not see the right hon. Gentleman here at the moment, but, in the course
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in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1959, far the salaries and expenses of the Department of Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, and the salary of the Minister of State for Colonial Affairs. [£535,000 has been voted on account.]
§ Whereupon Motion made, and Question, That the Chairman do report Progress and ask leave to sit again—[Mr. Oakshott.]—put and agreed to.
§ Committee report Progress to sit again Tomorrow.