HC Deb 25 January 1940 vol 356 c806W
Sir H. Williams

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the possibility of restoring to a material extent the publication of those economic statistics which have been withheld since the outbreak of war?

Sir J. Simon

I fully appreciate the importance of maintaining so far as possible the collection of statistics needed for the understanding of the development of the country's economic life. But the publication of such statistics is now a different matter since it is not desirable in war time to furnish enemy observers with the same detailed information about economic conditions as is furnished in peace time.