§ Sir W. Smithersasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will record on each future monthly statement of the Treasury's loan operations the approximate group totals of the National Debt as at the date of the return under each of the following headings: floating debt, other internal debt, external debt and total net debt after deducting Sinking Fund moneys?
§ Sir K. WoodI regret that I cannot adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion. The account of debt transactions published at the end of each month as a supplementary note to Exchequer Receipts and 711W Issues is a cash statement. The total of the National Debt on 31st March published annually on the date of the Budget, is an approximate figure and has to be subsequently adjusted by reference to the capital accounts, the adjusted totals being published in the Finance Accounts of the United Kingdom and finally in the National Debt Return. The figures already published provide the material for an approximate estimate of the amount of debt outstanding at the end of each month under each of the headings suggested. A closer approximation could not be published without a monthly reconciliation of cash receipts with the records of the various capital accounts. The value of such frequent adjustments would be doubtful at any time, and I cannot con-
Ways and Means Advances (£000). Bank of England. Government Departments Interest Bearing. Govt. Depts. free of Interest. Last day of Quarter— Amount. Rate per cent. Amount. Rate per cent. Amount. 1939— March … — — 3,000 1 24,885 June … 27,500 ½—1 4,250 11/16 to 1 7/16 41,460 September … — — 8,590 11/16 to 3¼ 40,560 December … — — 23,050 1 1/16 to 2 13/16 42,215 1940— March … — — 24,450 15/16 to 1 ⅛ 37,040 June … — — 6,000 15/16 30,630 September … — — 31,400 15/16 60,145 December … 50,500 ½—1 24,600 15/16 61,415 1941— March … — — 71,980 15/16 100,280 June … 28,250 ½—1 90,225 15/16 68,500 September … 750 ½—1 142,025 15/16 104,445 December … 66,000 ½—1 70,600 15/16 115,720 1942— March … — — 132,960 15/16 62,175 June … 36,250 ½—1 72,810 15/16 87,635 September … 5,500 ½—1 131,725 15/16 and 1 93,865 December … 67,750 ½—1 70,775 15/16 and 1 90,810 1943— March … 6,500 ½—1 160,715 15/16 and 1 121,780 June … 55,000 ½—1 157,925 15/16 and 1 86,510
§ Sir W. Smithersasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the average outstanding amounts of the Treasury bills, Ways and Means advances by the Bank of England, Ways and Means advances by 712W sider attempting them under war conditions.