Major Braithwaiteasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is in a position to make a general statement on the position of coastal towns in the Defence Areas which have been affected by the Regulations and have lost all their normal trade?
§ Sir K. WoodI cannot at present add anything to the reply given yesterday by the Lord Privy Seal to my hon. Friend the Member for Denbigh (Sir H. Morris-Jones).
Major Braithwaiteasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the action of certain banks who have called in overdrafts of small traders in the Defence areas who have been seriously affected by the Regulations interfering with their seasonable trade; and whether he will take steps to ensure that no real cases of hardship shall occur from this cause?
§ Sir K. WoodI am informed that it is not the general policy of the banks to call in overdrafts in cases such as my hon. and gallant Friend mentions and I am confident that the banks have no intention of acting in such a manner as to add to the difficulties occasioned in those cases by the Defence measures which it has been necessary to undertake.