HC Deb 22 April 1941 vol 371 c35W
Commander King-Hall

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make it clear that the purpose of War Weapons Week is to secure savings arising from a reduction of consumption, and that one of the consequences of a successful War Weapons Week in an area should be a substantial decrease in the takings of retailers in that area during the week?

Sir K. Wood

The National Savings Movement is making every endeavour both during War Weapons Weeks and in its general propaganda to reduce private consumption to an absolute minimum. While I do not think that it would be right to measure its success by the reduction of consumption in any area during a single week, evidence which I have seen shows that the holding of a War Weapons Week increases the level of genuine saving in the area very materially.

Commander King-Hall

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any means of ascertaining what percentage of the contribution to the results of a War Weapons Week made by institutions, such as banks and insurance companies, is due to the institution making an investment in Government securities through the medium of the branch office in the area holding a War Weapons Week which it would normally make through its head office?

Sir K. Wood

I am afraid that the information for which my hon. and gallant Friend asks is not available.