HC Deb 20 March 1947 vol 435 cc588-9
54. Mr. Lipson

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the capital value of Great Britain's overseas investments in 1938 and what is it now; the amount of interest they produced in 1938; and the amount for the last full year.

Mr. Glenvil Hall

The nominal value in 1938 was about £3,600 million. We have no present estimate. Figures of interest in 1938 and 1946 will be published in the forthcoming National Income White Paper.

Mr. Lipson

Could not my right hon. Friend say what proportion of the overseas investments that we had in 1938 is still held by this country?

Mr. Glenvil Hall

We have no comparable figure. The figure for 1938 is nominal only. Sometimes that can be misleading.

Mr. De la Bère

Does the right hon. Gentleman really mean to say that? It is monstrous.

Sir W. Smithers

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. Just now when you reprimanded me for asking a supplementary question 1 had no idea that representatives of—

Mr. Speaker

The less said the better.

Hon. Members

Hear, hear