§ MR. ASHTON (Bedfordshire, Luton)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that the Exchequer bonds to be paid off on 18th April next were drawn on 6th February, but that notice of the numbers of the bonds so drawn was not published for about a week thereafter, and in face of the obvious inconvenience of this course, he can see his way to arrange that the numbers when drawn shall be at once published.
§ MR. ASQUITHIn accordance with the Regulations published in the London Gazette of the 18th August last, the bonds were drawn in the presence of the Comptroller-General of the National Debt the Deputy-Governor of the Bank, and a representative of the Treasury. The list was sent to these gentlemen to be certified before being published in the Gazette. I agree that the drawn numbers should be published without any delay, and I will take steps to have this done in future, issuing a special Gazette if necessary for the purpose.