§ 67. Sir Patrick Hannonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is now in a position to make a statement on the volume at the latest convenient date of reverse Lend-lease operations in relation to the U.S.A.
§ The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sir John Anderson)Figures up to the 31st December, 1943, are contained in the reply given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Cardiff South, on the 9th March, 1944. Detailed figures up to a later date are not yet available, but according to preliminary estimates, apart from the programme of capital installations, we were transferring goods and services (including shipping services) at the rate of about £260 million a year during the first quarter of 1944 as compared with £120 million a year during the first quarter of 1943. Our total free aid to the United States, both in this country and abroad, up to 31st March, 1944, is estimated to amount to not less than £470 million.
§ Sir P. HannonIs my right hon. Friend taking any steps to instruct our Information Bureau in the United States to make these facts clear to the people of the United States?
§ Sir J. AndersonI am sure that is always kept in view.