§ 54. Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyreasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total sale of British overseas assets from the 1st April, 1947, to the latest convenient date.
§ Sir S. CrippsI regret that without a great deal of research it would not be possible to give any accurate figure for this.
§ Colonel Crosthwaite-EyreDoes the answer mean that His Majesty's Government do not keep themselves aware of the rate of British overseas disinvestments which must surely have a vital bearing on our balance of payments?
§ Sir S. CrippsWhat is asked for here is the sale of British assets overseas, and that cannot be sorted out with accuracy without a great deal of research.
§ Colonel Crosthwaite-EyreMay I have a firm answer on this? Do not His Majesty's Government consider that this is a vital issue if they are going to keep track of our present balance of payments?
§ Sir S. CrippsIt is certainly vital to know what money is flowing out of the country, but at the same time it is not always easy to tell whether it is from the sale of British overseas assets.