§ 65. Mr. WISEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total National Debt on 31st March, 1920; what was its commodity value at that date in terms of the Ministry of Labour cost of-living index with 1924 as base; what were the corresponding values at 30th March, 1931; and what was the percentage rise in the total as measured in commodities?
§ Mr. P. SNOWDENThe total National Debt on 31st March, 1920, was £7,829,000,000, and on 31st March, 1931, £7,413,000,000. The cost-of-living figures can be calculated from published data. As, however, nearly 95 per cent. of the debt was borrowed before 1920, I do not see that any useful purpose would be served by the calculation.
§ Mr. WISEDoes not a calculation show that the actual value of the National Debt measured in commodities has increased the price by 30 or 40 per cent.?
§ Mr. SNOWDENThe hon. Member is quite as capable as my officials to make these calculations for himself.
§ Mr. ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUELIn view of the erroneous impression conveyed by this question, will the Chancellor of the Exchequer take steps to issue a statement showing that little or no fresh money was borrowed by the nation after 1918, and that consequently the attempt to draw conclusions from a comparison of commodity prices applicable to the period covered by the dates in this question is irrelevant and the implication misleading?
§ Mr. SNOWDENI have already stated in the reply to the question on the Paper that 95 per cent. of the Debt was incurred before 1920, and I have said in reply to previous questions of this nature that nothing at all can be deduced from such calculations as the hon. Member makes.
§ Mr. WISEIf the right hon. Gentleman does issue any such statement will he include in it statements made by his immediate colleagues and also by the right lion. Gentleman the Member for Carnarvon Boroughs (Mr. Lloyd George) in regard to this matter?
§ Mr. SNOWDENIf I issue such a statement, I shall certainly include the fact that the Russian Government owe us about £1,000,000,000, and no hon. Member of this House would render greater service to his country at the present time than the hon. Member if he will induce his Bolshevik friends to pay us some of what they owe us.
§ Mr. WISEArising out of that reply, seeing that the right hon. Gentleman is Chancellor of the Exchequer, not I, would he not be more usefully fulfilling his functions if he addressed representations of that sort to France and Wall Street?