§ 57. Mr. Stokesasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what method was employed to arrive at the average interest charged by banks to agricultural borrowers?
§ Sir K. WoodI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Evesham (Mr. De la Bère) on 9th July, 1940. I was not able to state the average rate, but I said that I understood that in most cases the banks' charge was from 4 per cent. to 5 per cent.
§ Mr. StokesI heard the reply given by the Chancellor on that occasion; if I put a Question down asking him what was the highest rate charged, will he answer it?
§ Sir K. WoodI will give him some answer, at any rate.