HC Deb 18 July 1929 vol 230 cc661-2W
Mr. WISE

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer where the headquarters of the Bank of International Settlement is to be situated and in what currency its operations are to be conducted?

Mr. P. SNOWDEN

No decision has been reached as to the place where the headquarters of the proposed Bank for International Settlements shall be situated. According to the proposals of the Experts' Committee, which recommended the setting up of this Bank, the Bank's capital would be expressed in the currency of the country of its domicile,

British War Debt Liabilities.
(Debt to United States of America.)
Financial year. Amount due. Equivalent in Sterling at par of exchange.
1929 to 1932 inclusive $160,000,000* a year (approx.) £33,000,000 a year (approx.)
1933 to 1984 inclusive $183,000,000* a year (approx.) £37,700,000 a year (approx.)
*The exact amounts vary slightly from year to year.
Anticipated War Debt Receipts.
Financial Year. Debtor Governments. Total.
France. Italy. Others.
£ £ £ £
1929 10,000,000 4,000,000 1,050,000 15,050,000
1930 12,500,000 4,000,000 1,200,000 17,700,000
1931 12,500,000 4,000,000 1,250,000 17,750,000
1932–1934 inclusive 12,500,000 4,118,000 1,250,000 17,868,000
1935 12,500,000 4,118,000 1,275,000 17,893,000
1936–1938 inclusive 12,500,000 4,118,000 1,375,000 17,993,000
1939 12,500,000 4,118,000 1,425,000 18,043,000
1940 and 1941 12,500,000 4,118,000 1,475,000 18,093,000
1942–44 inclusive 12,500,000 4,118,000 1,675,000 18,293,000
1945–1956 inclusive 12,500,000 4,118,000 1,900,000 18,518,000
1957–1966 inclusive 14,000,000 4,118,000 1,900,000 20,018,000
1967–1986 inclusive 14,000,000 4,118,000 2,150,000 20,268,000
1987 14,000,000 2,059,000 2,150,000 18,209,000
1988 800,000 800,000

and its accounts would presumably be kept in that currency also. The Bank would be free to conduct operations in any currency, but it would accept deposits in those currencies only which satisfy the practical requirements of the gold or gold-exchange standard.

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