HC Deb 19 March 1936 vol 310 cc609-10
68. Mr. SILVERMAN

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount borrowed for War expenditure during the years 1914 to 1918; how much of the loan remains unpaid; and what is now the yearly amount required for interest on the outstanding debt?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

It is not possible to isolate the figures for War debt, but full particulars of the annual changes in the National Debt since 1914, together with the cost of interest on the outstanding debt in the year ended 31st March, 1935, will be found in the current National Debt Return (Command Paper No. 4996). I would, however, remind the hon. Member that, for reasons which have frequently been explained to Parliament, a comparison of nominal totals of dead-weight debt at different times is apt to be misleading.

Mr. SILVERMAN

Is the right hon. Gentleman unable to say what was the grand total of the War Loan?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I have referred the hon. Member to the paper in which he will find the information.

Mr. SILVERMAN

Did not the right hon. Gentleman mean to convey that it was impossible to isolate the War Loan from the general National Debt?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

Yes, that is correct. It is not possible to isolate the debt which is attributable solely to the War.