HC Deb 04 March 1912 vol 35 cc157-8W
Mr. NEWMAN

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in respect of Irish Two and Three-quarter per Cent. Guaranteed Land Stock, 1891, Two and Three-quarter per Cent. Guaranteed Land Stock, 1903, and Three per Cent. Guaranteed Land Stock, 1909, he will state, respectively the total amount issued, the total amount now held by Government departments, the total amount now in the hands of the public, and the total amount held or cancelled by the operation of sinking of the sinking fund paid out of tenants' advances; and, in the case of the 1891 Two and Three-quarter per Cent. Stock, the latest price paid by the National Debt Commissioners for the purchase of the said stock, and why it is not quoted on the London Stock Exchange, and, in the case of the Two and Three-quarter per Cent. 1903 Stock, the price at which the most recent issue of stock was made?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

The information as to the several stocks is given in the following table:—

Held by Government Departments. Held by Public. Held or Cancelled by Sinking Funds. Total Stock Issued.
£ £ £ £
Guaranteed Land Stock (1891) 8,816,511 2,082,415 2,749,689 13,648,616
Guaranteed 2¾% Stock (1903) 30,190,495 22,328,092 248,805 52,767,392
Guaranteed 3% Stock (1909) 8,560,763 3,196,688 14,903 11,772,354

The distribution of the stock between Government Departments and the public has been estimated, as the last actual figures available were those relating to 31st March, 1911. The latest price paid by the National Debt Commissioners for Guaranteed Land Stock (1891) was 77¼ on the 2nd February, 1912. The bulk of this stock is inscribed in the books of the Bank of Ireland, and there are not sufficient transactions on the London Stock Exchange to warrant the Stock being quoted in the official list. Excluding issues of the Stock by way of advances, the last issue of Guaranteed Two and Three-quarter per Cent. Stock was made on the 31st May, 1910, at a price of £82 18s. 6d, ex dividend.