§ Mr. L. SCOTTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount available each month for the Depreciation Fund for the 4 per cent. and 5 per cent. War Loan; how much has been issued to the fund during the current financial year; how much has been invested for the fund during the same period; how much is available for investment up to the end of the financial year; and whether the price has ever been long enough over the issue price to allow of the limit of £10,000,000 being reached?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe sum issuable to the Depreciation Fund for the 4 per cent. and 5 per cent. War Loans in respect of each month is £2,660,022 6s. Issues are, however, suspended temporarily whenever the unapplied balance of the fund reaches £10,000,000. The total sums issued to the fund during the current financial year to 17th March, 1920, amount to £25,440,200 14s., apart from which (and from the unapplied balance of £10,009,014 19s. 2d. held by the fund at 31st March, 1919) the fund has been credited during the same period with £218,120 10s. 10d. for interest on temporary investments. The, total sums applied from the fund during the period to the purchase of War Loan for cancellation amount to £26,423,484 7s. 6d. The unapplied balance of the Depreciation Fund at 17th March, 1920, was thus £9,243,851 16s. 6d. Further sums are issuable to the fund in the present financial year in respect of the instalment for the month ending 16th March, 1920. No issues were made to the fund in respect of the months ending 16th March, 16th April, and 16th November, 1919, in consequence of the unapplied balance of the fund having reached, for the time being, the sum of £10,000,000.