§ 52. Mr. STEPHENasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of liability at present on the Exchequer on account of the Trade Facilities Acts and the amount of loss that has taken place from the initiation of this legislation until the present time?
Mr. SAMUELIn reply to the first part of the question, the total present amount of the Exchequer liability in respect of loans guaranteed under the Trade Facilities Acts, after allowing for repayments and other adjustments, is £70,394,133. In reply to the second part of the question, the loss is £59,485, subject to possibility of part-recovery, as stated in the answer which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Everton (Colonel Woodcock) on the 1st March.
Mr. RUNCIMANAre guarantees still being given in respect of loans which are issued from time to time?
§ Mr. CONNOLLYIs it possible to get the details of the losses?
Mr. SAMUELIf the hon. Gentleman will look at the answer which I gave on 1st March, he will find a good deal more detail than I have given in my reply to-day.
Mr. RUNCIMANIs the hon. Gentleman quite sure that there are no issues being made at the present time, either privately or publicly, in respect of these guarantees?
Mr. SAMUELIf the right hon. Gentleman means that trade facilities are being extended, I am of the opinion, speaking from memory, that no further guarantees are being given, and that if any business is being done, it is merely to finish up work begun some months ago.