§ Mr. Lewisasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he will give particulars, up to the latest convenient date, with regard to those guarantees which have been given under the Export Guarantees Act, 1937, and earlier enactments, showing the total amount of such guarantees, the total sum received by way of premiums, the total amount paid in claims, the total administrative expenses, and the total amount of unpaid claims which were overdue and still outstanding on the date in question?
§ Mr. R. S. HudsonThe information for which my hon. Friend asks is published annually in the Department's Trading Accounts. The accounts for the last completed financial year are under audit and should be presented to the House in a short time. I may add that up to the 30th September last, the Department had issued policies and contracts covering a total of £180,627,000. About £45,000 is expected to result in claims from the amounts notified to the Department as overdue and still outstanding on 3oth September last; but it does not follow that the final loss will be as great as this.