HC Deb 24 June 1920 vol 130 cc2368-9
37. Mr. BRIANT

asked what is the Government's policy with regard to the funding of the floating debt?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

The policy of the Government is to seize any suitable opportunity for funding the floating debt, and in the meantime to endeavour to pay off a portion of it.

Captain W. BENN

Will the floating debt be funded entirely by seizing every opportunity? Is there no more practical scheme?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I do not quite understand my hon. and gallant Friend. We hope to pay off some of the floating debt from the surplus provided by the new taxation as explained in my Budget speech.

79. Captain BENN

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state what was the total amount of the floating debt outstanding on Saturday last; and what was the total subscription to the Treasury Bonds to that date?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

The floating debt on Saturday, 19th June, was £1,291,314,000, and the Exchequer receipts from Treasury Bonds £7,385,000. As I have already informed the hon. Member on several occasions, he has occupied the time of the House in asking for the restatement of information which is published weekly in the newspapers.

Captain BENN

Whilst thanking the right hon. Gentleman, may I ask whether he is entirely satisfied with the Government scheme for funding the debt?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

That is a question which the hon. Member has put to me on each occasion on which he has asked for a repetition of figures which had already appeared.

Sir D. MACLEAN

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that this is the right place in which to give information of vital importance to the country, as well as in the Press?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

To me it seems a pity to waste question time, which hon. Members complain is not enough, in order to ask for information which has already been published, and is published weekly in the Press.

Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that some useful purpose is served by bringing to the notice of the Members present the state of our finances?