44. Mr. T. THOMSONasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the conflicting statements that are being made as to the amount of the National Debt on 31st December, 1918, and on the 31st March, 1922, he will state in specific figures the total nominal value of the amount of national indebtedness on those dates?
Mr. YOUNGNo figure has been published for 31st December, 1918. The figures on 31st December, 1919, and 31st March, 1922, respectively, were, as stated in the Budget speech (OFFICIAL REPORT, 1st May, 1922, col. 1024, Vol. 153), approximately £7,998,000,000 and £7,654,500,000.
Mr. THOMSONIs it possible to get the figure for 31st December, 1918, seeing that it was possible to get the figure for 31st December, 1919?
Mr. YOUNGI will have inquiries made as to whether that figure can be obtained with any accuracy and without undue labour.