§ MR. PIKE PEASE (Darlington)To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is in a position to state the total amount of the municipal debt of England and Wales to the end 1906; also the annual cost of such debt, including interest.
(Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I presume that the Question refers to the debt of all local authorities in England and Wales, and not merely to that of 1124 town councils. The latest available figures relate to the year ended March, 1904, and these show that the outstanding loans then amounted to £393,882,146, and that the loan charges in that year (including interest, repayment of principal, and sums paid to sinking funds) amounted to £21,675,645.