HC Deb 06 July 1938 vol 338 cc400-2W
Mr. H. G. Williams

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the fact that in the first quarter of the present financial year the excess of expenditure over revenue was £32,848,000 greater than in the same quarter of last year, he will state whether he proposes now to take steps to effect economies in order to minimise the risk of a deficit at the end of the present financial year?

Captain Wallace

The returns for the first quarter never afford a reliable indication of the probable out-turn of the whole financial year, since expenditure is distributed more or less evenly over the year whereas a disproportionate amount of the revenue, notably from Income Tax and Surtax, is not received till the last quarter. It follows that the excess of expenditure over revenue in the first quarter is greater in a year when both expenditure and estimated revenue have increased. Moreover, of the increase which my hon. Friend refers to, over £19,000,000 relates to Defence expenditure,

Countries from which consigned. Year 1937. January-May, 1938.
Quantity. Declared Value. Quantity. Declared Value.
cwt. £ cwt. £
Japan (including Formosa) … 454,000 1,572,250 64,948 251,269
Soviet Union … 293,810 1,061,501 3,359 11,824
Canada … 174,419 785,331 59,544 228,033
United States of America … 254,942 1,059,097 87,179 391,746

In connection with the above figures, it should be noted that a large proportion of the imports of canned salmon consigned from the Soviet Union consists of fish from Japanese canneries situated in Soviet territory. Particulars of imports according to country of origin are not available.

With regard to the second part of the question, I understand that imported tinned fish is usually sold under names or trade marks which require to be qualified by an indication of origin under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926; but I have no information whether that indication usually consists of the word "foreign" or "Empire" as the case may be or a definite indication of the country of origin. Under the provisions of the Act, either alternative is open to the person applying the indication of origin.

the year's provision for which will be charged in part to loan.

Whilst my right hon. Friend does not therefore accept the implication contained in my hon. Friend's question, I would refer him in general to the reply given to himself and another hon. Member on 14th June.