60 and 61. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will make the necessary arrangements for publishing in the aggregate at the end of each month, the amount outstanding by way of indebtedness from agricultural producers to the leading banks; and whether, at the same time, he will state the approximate number of agricultural borrowers to which this sum in the aggregate is related;
(2) whether he has any figures to show the approximate total amount in aggregate which was lent by Barclays, National Provincial, Midland, Westminster and Martin's banks, to agriculturalists at 31st December, 1939, or 1st January, 1940?
§ Sir K. WoodIn present circumstances, when the banks' staffs are seriously depleted and are working at high pressure, it is not possible to ask them to furnish at frequent intervals statistics of the kind desired by my hon. Friend. The available information shows, however, that advances to agriculturists by the clearing banks amounted in the aggregate to about £53,000,000 at the middle of February. No information is available as to the number of borrowers concerned.
Mr. De la BèreAre the bankers charging 5 per cent. for these loans to agriculture, or are they charging some lesser amount?
§ Sir K. WoodIf my hon. Friend will put the Question down, I will try to answer it.
Mr. De la BèreWill my right hon. Friend endeavour to assist me by getting the bankers to realise that some concession in this respect is overdue?