§ Mr. PETHERICKasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether he will obtain information as to the total amount spent on public works by the Italian Government since the Fascist régime came into power; and the amount of the increase in the Italian national and local debt since the same date;
(2) whether he will obtain information as to the amount of the increase in the federal debt of the United States of America, excluding budgetary deficits, the total amount of such budgetary deficits, the increase in federal taxation per head of the population, and the amount spent and contracted to be spent by the federal government on public works since the date of the last presidential inauguration?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe information requested is not readily available and would take a considerable amount of time and labour to collate. I regret that, in view of the present state of public business, I cannot undertake to supply it.