§ 81. Mr. W. THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade how much British capital is invested in countries outside the United Kingdom; and if he can state the amount of interest received from such invested capital?
Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSI know of no reliable estimate of the total amount of British capital invested outside the United Kingdom. With regard to the interest, partial statistics are to be found in Tables 66 and 69 (Schedules C and D of the Income Tax) in the Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue (Cmd. 1780). But a large and unknown amount of profits derived from overseas investments and business is included in the more general items of Schedule D (Table 69).
§ Mr. THORNEIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that Sir George Paish, who is the Financial Adviser to the Treasury, stated some time ago that £4,000,000,000 are invested overseas?
Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSNo doubt those figures were compiled from official returns, but we have no foundation more satisfactory to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. THORNEHow is it that private individuals know about the amount of British capital invested overseas and the Board of Trade do not know?
Mr. DOYLEOn a point of Order. In view of the increasing number of questions appearing on the Order Paper, and the probability of a much further increase, will you consider the desirability of increasing the time allowed for questions by a quarter of an hour?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is governed by the Standing Order.