HC Deb 05 October 1944 vol 403 c1107
12. Mr. Tom Brown

asked the Minister of Labour the amount of money standing to the credit of the Unemployment Fund on 30th June, 1944.

Mr. Bevin

At 30th June, 1944, the balance of the Unemployment Fund, including investments at cost, was about £260,500,000 on the General Account and £8,100,000 on the Agricultural Account.

Mr. Brown

Is it the intention of my right hon. Friend or his Department to use this money for the purposes of administration, in connection with the proposed Social Insurance Scheme?

Mr. Bevin

I think my hon. Friend had better await the Debate on the White Paper on Social Security.

Sir H. Williams

May I ask to whom the Minister has lent all this large sum of money which he controls?

Mr. Bevin

I think the Government have borrowed it. In spite of what was said in 1931 there seems to be no trouble about it.

Sir H. Williams

But would the Minister answer my question: to whom has he lent all the money?

Mr. Thorne

Can my right hon. Friend state the amount of money accumulating week by week?