asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the additional sums required for rearmament and the restricted scope for new taxes, if he will appoint a committee to investigate what economies can be made in public expenditure on similar lines to the May Committee of 1939.

No, Sir.

Can the Chancellor say whether rearmament can be financed without cuts in civil expenditure?

I must ask the hon. Member to await my Budget statement.

In view of the very considerable approval which is given in Conservative circles to the opinions of the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Osborne), will my right hon. Friend take note of the sort of economies which are being called for?