§ 35. Mr. OSWALD LEWISasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total net decrease during the period of 10 years ended 31st March, 1935, in the nominal amount of the national debt outstanding, excluding the War debt to the United States of America and excluding the amount of £350,000,000 borrowed for the Exchange Equalisation Account; and the total revenue received during the same period from death duties?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe figures asked for are respectively £109,200,000 and £757,500,000. My hon. Friend will appreciate that variations in the nominal 1260 amount of the debt are not a reliable indication of its actual burden from time to time. The annual charge has been very greatly reduced in recent years.
§ 36. Mr. GROVESasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the commitments of the National Debt for 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, and to date?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton (Mr. Craven-Ellis) on the 18th June, where he will find the figures for the four years mentioned. Since the beginning of the year the nominal debt has increased by approximately £50,000,000, that being the approximate amount of the deficit on current account on the 22nd June, and the charge for interest and management from the beginning of the current financial year to date is £72,500,000.