§ 6. Mr. Hunterasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the amount of post-war credits repaid, and the amount still owing, at the latest convenient date.
§ Sir E. BoyleAt 31st March, 1961, about £397 million had been paid and about £343 million was outstanding. Both these figures relate to the amount of credit originally created and they include no element of interest.
§ Mr. HunterMay I ask the Financial Secretary if he will ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to consider lowering the age for the repayment of post-war credits, because many people have waited nearly twenty years and now feel that they should receive some consideration?
§ Sir E. BoyleI cannot at this stage of the year, obviously, make any promise about that at all, but I will say to the hon. Member that I agree with the implication in his supplementary question, 463 which is that we have now gone as far as we can in giving priority treatment to hardship cases, and that when the time comes—and I am making no commitment about this at all—for further repayment, we shall probably have to look at the point which the hon. Member has made.