HC Deb 24 November 1926 vol 200 cc430-1W
Mr. BENNETT

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Government proposes to publish the text of the Colwyn Report?

Mr. RONALD McNEILL

The Report will be presented to Parliament in due course; but I am unable at present to give the precise date.

Mr. PENNY

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he can give the figures showing the total burden of the National Debt and the amount per capita in the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the United States of America, respectively?

Mr. McNEILL

Owing to the differences in the political constitution of the countries named, it is not possible to give strictly comparable figures. The figures below give the debts of the central Governments in the respective countries:

letters N.M.R.E. (not making reasonable effort); arid, if there be no rule or instruction, will he instruct his officers to modify their requirement that claimants shall visit places in search of work where it is well known no opportunity of securing employment exists?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

It is the duty of the officer dealing with a case to note on the appropriate form for the information of the rota committee all relevant facts ascertained by him, and I understand it is sometimes the practice to indicate, in some such manner as is described in the first part of the question, the point on which doubt may arise. This is in no sense an instruction to the committee, whose responsibility it is to examine the case on its merits, but I do not consider that it is open to objection. As regards the second part of the question, officers are already enjoined to exercise due discretion on this point.