§ Sir L. Lyleasked the Minister of Labour what is the present credit balance of the Unemployment Insurance Fund; and how this compares with the corresponding balance at the end of each wartime year.
§ Mr. E. BevinThe balances of the Unemployment Fund were approximately as follows at the dates stated:
Million £s. *31st December, 1939 … … 61 *31st December, 1940 … … 58 31st December, 1941 … … 85 31st December, 1942 … … 158 31st December, 1943 … … 232 4th March, 1944 … … 246 *At these dates the balance of funded debt outstanding was approximately £77,000,000 and £39,000,000 respectively; the debt was finally extinguished on 31st March, 1941.