§ Mr. MYERSasked the Minister of Health the present outstanding debt of the local authorities of England and Wales such as come within the Local Taxation Returns, the approximate amount of interest now annually paid thereon, and the approximate rate per cent. of such interest charges?
§ Dr. ADDISONDuring the War, local authorities were allowed to postpone their returns, and the latest complete figures of outstanding debt are for the financial year ended March, 1917, which show a total approximating £558,000,000. The latest available figures of interest paid are two years earlier, and amount to £19,223,483, which represented an average rate of interest of about 3.4 per cent.