§ LORD BARNBYasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will state the average annual cost of "service" of outstanding National Debt during the present Administration; also the annual average of service during the 13 years of the previous Administration.
§ LORD BESWICKThe annual average cost of interest, management and expenses of the National Debt was £1,274,933,000 for the years 1965–66 to 1968–69 inclusive: this compares with £846,040,000 for the years 1952–53 to 1963–64. Since the figures for National Debt are given on a financial year basis, only complete financial years under each Administration are used in the calculation.
House adjourned at six minutes before six o'clock.