HC Deb 19 October 1939 vol 352 c1079W
Sir J. Wardlaw-Milne

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that while control of certain commodities, and to some extent of business activities by Government Departments is recognised as inevitable in time of war, there is resentment and anxiety at the increasing tendency towards bureaucratic control of trade and industry with results which are detrimental to the successful carrying on of ordinary business operations, tend to create unemployment, will seriously affect the yield of revenue, and may permanently cripple the spirit of enterprise and initiative upon which the British Empire has been largely built up; and will he take action to reverse this procedure?

Captain Crookshank

The Government's aim is to secure that their intervention in trade and industry should be kept within the narrowest possible bounds consistent with the essential requirements of the national situation. For this purpose the extent of the measures of control they find it necessary to impose is constantly under review with the object of introducing such modifications as may be practicable to ensure that business enterprise is not restricted.