§ Mr. MacNEILLasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the total amount due to depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank on 31st December, 1909; the amount of Consols sold on account of the bank during the year ended 31st December, 1909, and at what average price per cent.; the amount of Consols held on account of the bank on 31st December, 1909; the cost price per cent, on balance of the Consols so held; and the deficiency, if any, in the income account for the year ended 31st December, 1909; will he give similar information as to the trustee savings banks on 20th November, 1909; and will he state what gold reserve, if any, is held against the aggregate liability to depositors?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEIn regard to the Post Office Savings Bank, the total amount due to depositors at the end of 1909 was £164,569,065. The amount of Consols sold from the Post Office Savings Bank Fund during the year 1909 was £1,967,973, at an average price of £83 13s. 6d. per cent. The amount of Consols held on account of the fund at 31st December, 1909, was £60,078,813. The cost price on balance of this stock works out at £103 0s. 4d. per cent. The deficiency in the income account of the fund for the year ended 31st December, 1909, amounted to £50,481. No gold is held as a reserve. As regards trustee savings banks, the total amount due to depositors in these banks at 20th November, 1909, wad £52,181,983. The amount of Consols sold from the Trustee Savings Banks Fund in the year ended 20th November, 1909, was £251,359, at an average price of £84 3s. 11d. per cent. The amount of Consols held on account of the fund at 20th November, 1909, was £17,648,748. The cost price on balance of this stock works out at £94 0s. 7d. per cent. The surplus on the income account of the fund for the year ended 20th November, 1909, was £5,993. No gold is held as a reserve.