§ Sir C. Osborneasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what evidence he based his official assessment that the new hire-purchase measures to enforce moderate consumer demand will produce an immediate effect on demand; and by what amount he estimates that this will reduce the traditional Christmas trade.
§ Mr. DiamondPast experience shows that the effect on demand of variations in hire-purchase controls is virtually immediate. As to the second part of the Question, it is difficult to give a precise estimate.