§ Sir E. HUME-WILLIAMSasked the Chancellor of die Exchequer whether he is act are of the fact that the Select Committee on Premium Bonds did not definitely report against the issue of such bonds, but only against the desirability of an issue at the date of the Report; and whether he will now consider the desirability of offering such bonds for subscription both in this and in foreign countries, so as if possible to regulate the question of exchange?
Sir J. D. REESasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is prepared to issue premium bonds on the next occasion upon which the proposes to raise money?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe effective words of the Committee's Report were as follow
We doubt, however, whether the amount of new money to be obtained would justify any change of a contentious character in our financial methods, and we are satisfied that such strong views are held with regard to Premium Bonds that legislation to sanction them \ wild be difficult to obtain, and that such a proposal might cause a controversy in the country which would be most undesirable. We do not, therefore, advise that an issue of Premium Bonds be made at the present time, or until further efforts have been made to render present issues more attractive to the investor.I gather that it is the general wish of the House that the question should be reexamined by the new House of Commons and, as I stated on Thursday last, the Government will move for the appointment of a Select Committee.