§ MR. MONK (Gloucester)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the amount paid into the Exchequer during the year ending 31st March, 1898, as interest and dividend on the ordinary Suez Canal shares, held by Her Majesty's Government, includes the nominal value of the shares drawn for redemption during that period; how many shares were so drawn; and whether he will consider the desirability of distinguishing in future between the repayment of capital on the drawn shares and the interest and dividend on ordinary shares up to the period of their redemption?
THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. R. W. HANBUST,) PrestonThe amount paid into the Exchequer as interest and dividend on ordinary shares in the year ended 31st March, 1898, was £688,917 15s. 1d., as shown at page 25 of the Finance Accounts. That amount does not include any sum in respect of shares drawn for repayment. The number of shares drawn and repaid in the year was 326, and the sum received in repayment was £6,464 8s. 1d., which is shown separately at page 12 of the Finance Accounts. Interest and capital payments are thus sufficiently distinguished.