HC Deb 05 March 1936 vol 309 c1564
69. Mr. BAXTER

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total amount of British money invested in development work or advanced as loans since the War to Empire countries and to foreign countries, respectively?

Mr. W. S. MORRISON

I fear that there are no available statistics which would enable me to answer the question. For what they are worth, the figures of the new capital issues on the London market during the years 1919 to 1935, inclusive, have been computed at £960,000,000 for British Empire countries and at £527,000,000 for foreign countries; but, as my hon. Friend is aware, these figures do not purport to show the true net amount invested by the United Kingdom overseas during the period in question, and may be a quite inaccurate guide to it.