The Week in Parliament Our Parliamentary correspondent writes : The
Budget resolutions plod their placid and uneventful way. The life was taken out of the Budget debates by the conscription announcement, and, although a number of worthy speeches have been made, the House as a whole has never shown the slightest interest in what was going on in the Chamber. Sir John Simon is justifiably pleased with the Budget's reception, but his difficulties will come not merely with the increased taxation arising from the Military Training Bill, but with the new proposals for the limitation of armament profits. Mr. Alexander has seldom made a better speech than he did on Monday ; he expressed what is in the minds of many Members of all parties when he said that the Departments have as yet been unable to get upon the track of the race with profits. There is no doubt of growing agitation in the constituencies, particularly since the Conscription Bill, for much sterner measures of profit-control than have so far been devised. It is indeed unfortunate that so few oppor- tunities are given for discussing defence, in its widest aspect, which includes all spheres of the national life. Members drag defence-needs into every speech they make, but Par- liamentary occasions when the whole problem can be dealt with are few and far between.
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