§ Sir L. Lyleasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, for the purposes of establishing the measure of public investment which it is essential to know in connection with the Government White Paper on Employment, he will ascertain what was the amount of private investment in industrial activity for which shares were issued to the public in each year 1931–1938.
§ Sir J. AndersonIt would be impracticable, without altogether excessive expenditure of time and labour, to attempt to establish how far share issues during each of the years in question provided for fresh private investment in industrial activity as distinct from other objects, such40W as refinancing. Moreover, even if such figures could be obtained, they would be of little use for my hon. Friend's purpose, because similar private investment was, no doubt, financed by various means, both public and private, other than the issue of shares.