HC Deb 22 January 1931 vol 247 cc362-3
70. Sir WILLIAM LANE MITCHELL

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Great Britain receives in 12 months from reparations and Allied debts; and what is our annual interest payment to the United States for the last year for which figures are available

Mr. P. SNOWDEN

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for the Central Division of Southwark (Mr. Day) on 28th May last, of which I am sending him a copy. The only alteration to be made in the figures given in that reply is that, as the result of the Reparation Loan issued in June, 1930, we received a capital sum of £9,000,000, and our annual reparation receipts are correspondingly reduced by £700,000 a year as from 15th June last.

Sir W. LANE, MITCHELL

Does that mean that we are not getting as much from Allied debts and reparations as we pay to the United States?

Mr. SNOWDEN

Oh, no.

Mr. WISE

Can the Chancellor of the Exchequer say how much less we should be paying to America if we had as satisfactory terms as Italy or France?

Mr. SPEAKER

That is rather a hypothetical question.