HC Deb 30 January 1978 vol 943 c25W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will list those hon. Members whom he has interviewed or with whom he has arranged official discussions on the question of his Budget strategy; how many of these were not Privy Councillors; and to what extent he secured from these Members an assurance to uphold the long accepted practice of not revealing Budget secrets.

Mr. Joel Barnett

In the period before the Budget, my colleagues and I see many people, including right hon. and hon. Members. At such meetings, as indeed generally, we always bear in mind the need to preserve Budget security when it is in issue.