Mr. De la Bèreasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in relation to the fact that, in February, 1940, there was £53,000,000 outstanding from agricultural borrowers to the joint stock banks, he can now state what percentage of this amount outstanding relates to moneys borrowed at 5 per cent. in the year 1930; and whether, in this connection, he has taken into account the rates of interest on Government securities in 1930 and the present day?
§ Sir K. WoodI regret that information about bank advances to agricultural borrowers in 1930 is not available. I would suggest that owing to the fluctuating nature of such advances, comparison between figures for 1930 and the present time would not be of any practical value.