§ Ms. QuinTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will supply figures for the number of purchases of premium bonds for each calendar year since 1979.
§ Mr. NelsonThe number of purchases of premium bonds, for each calendar year from 1979 to date, has been as follows:
Year (000s) 1979 4,463.1 1980 4,103.1 1981 3,674.1 1982 3,298.3 1983 3,499.5 1984 3,328.6 1985 2,530.0 1986 1,949.8 1987 1,962.0 1988 2,036.7 1989 1,418.0 1990 639.5 1991 727.4 1992 1391.7 1 January to May: provisional.