§ Mr. R. Gibsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered the fact that the clearing house returns for each of the last four months of 1937 was lower than for the corresponding month of 1936; and whether he has any statement to make regarding any steps the Government propose to take to meet this situation?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ColvilleThe fact asserted in the first part of the question is correct as regards town clearings but not as regards country and Metropolitan clearings. As was stated in the report from the bankers' clearing house in which the figures are published, it would be unwise to use the town clearing figures, which are influenced by purely financial operations, as a guide to the general trade conditions of the country, which are reflected in the country cheque clearing. The second part of the question does not therefore arise.