§ DR. MACNAMARA (Camberwell, N.)To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in the Return relating to the National Debt (Cd. 2516, pp. 7 and 9) the value of the Suez Canal shares held by the Government is not estimated at the market value on a given day; and, if so, will he explain why is the method not applied to the securities held by the National Debt Commissioners on account, of the savings banks.
(Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) It has been the practice to show the estimated value of the Suez Canal shares at current market price in the Annual Returns of the National Debt, and I think the computation is of some interest. The reasons which led the Select Committee on Savings Banks to recommend the discontinuance of the similar practice in the case of the savings banks funds will be found stated in their Report.