§ 61. Mr. Stokesasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amounts of gold and dollars have been paid to the Organisation of European Economic Co-operation countries each month from the inception of the Intra-European Payments Agreement.
§ The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Douglas Jay)I will, with permission, circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. StokesCan my hon. Friend give me something more intelligible? I want to know the answer particularly. Can he say if the gold was sent in bullion and not in coin, what amount was involved, and what was the rate per fine ounce?
§ Mr. JayThe figures which I propose to circulate are perfectly intelligible, and they show, as I think the House knows, considerable payments to Switzerland and Belgium in particular. The other points which my hon. Friend raised are not in his Question, and perhaps he will give notice of them.
§ Mr. StokesSurely I am entitled to know what amount is involved, and surely my hon. Friend can tell me that, as I wish to do a bit of propaganda on this subject.
§ Following are the figures:
| GOLD AND DOLLAR SETTLEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH PAYMENTS AGREEMENTS WITH O.E.E.C. COUNTRIES | ||||
| Paid in | £'000 | |||
| Belgium | Switzerland | Bizone | ||
| 1948 | ||||
| October | … | 2,500 | 500 | 3,161 |
| November | … | — | 500 | — |
| December | … | — | — | — |
| 1949 | ||||
| January | … | 2,700 | 80 | 1,502 |
| February | … | 1,700 | 288 | — |
| March | … | 1,231 | 1,496 | — |
| April | … | 2,260 | 1,696 | — |
| May | … | 1,792 | 1,015 | — |