§ 50. Mr. MABANEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state the average rate of interest paid in respect of the floating debt during the current financial year to date; and the difference between that rate and the rate paid on the floating debt during the last financial year?
§ Mr. COOPERThe average rate of interest on Treasury Bills issued by tender during the current financial year to date is 15s. 10d. compared with 8s. 6d. during the corresponding period of the 830 last financial year. The rate over the whole of last financial year was 12s. 6d.
§ Mr. MABANEDo not these figures indicate that the Chancellor of the Exchequer is going to be disappointed as to the cost, which will be considerably more during the current financial year than it was last year?
§ Mr. COOPERI think it is too early to draw any conclusion.