MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer can he now state whether the balance sheet of the Post Office Savings Bank made up to 31st December, 1900, showed an access of assets over liabilities or an excess of liabilities over assets, and what such excess was; can he further state at what date in each year the making up of the balance sheet up to the end of the preceding year is usually completed, and whether there is any objection to laying it upon the Table of the House immediately after its completion; and can he state when this balance sheet made up to 31st December, 1900, will be presented to the House.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir M. HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W.The balance sheet of the Post Office Savings Bank made up to 31st December, 1900, shows an excess of liabilities over assets amounting to £2,040,594 on the price of the securities at the market value of the day. The yearly balance sheet is usually completed during the month of July in the following year; and is published as an appendix to the Report of His Majesty's Postmaster General which is presented to both Houses of Parliament. The Postmaster General's Report now in course of preparation, which will contain the balance sheet for the year ended 31st December, 1900, will be presented during the present session of Parliament.
§ MR. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he will state the entire amount paid over to the Exchequer as profit on the working of the Post Office Savings Bank since the establishment of that institution in 1861, and also the amounts voted by Parliament to meet 431 any deficiency in the working; will he give the amount charged against the cost of management for the purchase of land, for cost of new buildings, and for postage respectively; and can he state approximately the present value of the land and buildings thus secured to the Government at the cost of the institution.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN,) Worcestershire, E.The hon. Gentleman will find full information on these matters in the annual report of the Postmaster General, to which I must ask him to refer.