§ MR. LIONEL COHEN (Paddington, N.)asked the Secretary to the Treasury, What is the estimated amount for the current year of the Exchequer deposits and banking deposits which the First Lord of the Treasury described as—
Enabling the Chancellor of the Exchequer to exercise so large a power of purchase in the stock market as effectually to counteract any abnormal depression;what has been the amount of these deposits in each of the last three financial years, and in what manner have they been employed; whether any Return is annually made to Parliament of the exercise of any such power as that alluded to by the First Lord of the Treasury; and, what are the Acts of Parliament under which such power is conferred?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. HENRY H. FOWLER) (Wolverhampton, E.),in reply, said, he was not prepared to state the amount referred to in this Question.