71. Earl of Dalkeithasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will advance the date of the Budget to January, or as soon as possible thereafter, so 88W as to take maximum advantage of any opportunities provided by devaluation of the £ sterling by means of fiscal incentives to greater national effort, and to put an end to speculation about further devaluation.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsNo. There is no basis for such speculation. The measures which it was advisable to take at once have been taken already. We need a clearer view of the prospect for demand before the next steps in fiscal policy are decided.