§ MR. BYLES (Salford, N.)To ask the Secretary to the Treasury what, on 31st December, 1906, was the total amount due to depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank; what amount of Consols was sold during the year 1906, and at what average price; what was the amount of Consols held on account of the Post Office Savings Bank on 31st December, 1906, and what is the average price per cent. at which the stock was purchased; and what is the deficiency (if any) in the income account of the Post Office Savings Bank for the year ended 31st December 1906.
(Answered by Mr. Runciman.) The figures asked for by my hon. friend are given below:—
| £ | s. | d. | |
| Amount due to depositors in the Post Office Savings Banks on 31st December, 1906 - | 155,996,446 | 0 | 0 |
| Amount of Consols sold during the year 1906 - | 1,777,644 | 0 | 0 |
| Average price at which these Consols were sold - | 88 | 3 | 1 |
| Amount of Consols held at 31st December, 1906 - | 59,977,688 | 0 | 0 |
| Cost price on balance of Consols held at 31st December, 1906 - | 103 | 0 | 3 |
| The deficiency in the income account for the year 1906 amounted to | 119,870 | 0 | 0 |
§ The apparently large amount of Consols sold in the year includes £1,715,644 Consols transferred to depositors at the average price of the day. During the same period Consols to the amount of £883,730 were purchased by transfer from depositors.