HC Deb 05 October 1931 vol 257 c802
53. Colonel WEDGWOOD

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of annual interest that has to be paid by His Majesty's Government on loans made in foreign currency; whether interest on the £50,000,000 credit has to be paid in foreign currency; and whether interest on the £80,000,000 credit is included in the total shown in answer to the first part of this question?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Philip Snowden)

The amount of interest payable on loans made in foreign currency varies from year to year. It amounted to nearly £29,000,000 last year, but is reduced to about £15,000,000 this year and next year as a result of President Hoover's plan. The reply to the second part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the last part in the negative.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

Is that figure of £15,000,000 based on a gold currency, and does that include the debt to America, or does it exclude the ordinary War Debt?

Mr. SNOWDEN

It includes the debt to America.