§ 79. Mr. Prittasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what amounts in sterling the British authorities in Bulgaria have sold or transferred to persons in Bulgaria in exchange for Bulgarian currency during the six months 317W ended 8th March, 1947; and at what rate such sales or transfers were made.
§ 80 and 81. Mr. Prittasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) from what sources the British authorities in Bulgaria obtained the leva 25,605,280 of Bulgarian currency which they presented to the Bulgarian National Bank on 8th March, 1947; and how much had they previously drawn from that bank in Bulgarian currency;
(2) during what period the British authorities in Bulgaria have been supplying British subjects there with Bulgarian currency at the rate of 3,000 leva to the £, or three times the official rate; from what source this currency was obtained; what is the total amount so supplied in the six months ended 8th March, 1947; and whether the Bulgarian Government was informed of these activities.
Mr. McNeilConsiderable sums of leva have been received in cash by the office of the British Political Representative in respect of consular fees and such services as air passages, showing of British films and the sale of British newspapers. In the last 12 months leva 12,776,431 have been drawn from the National Bank of Bulgaria.
The office of the British Political Representative has supplied non-official British subjects visiting or passing through Bulgaria with local currency since 15th September, 1945. The total so supplied since 15th September, 1946, amounts to leva 261,000. In addition to the sources already mentioned the Mission has been financed by transfers authorised by the National Bank of Bulgaria of British balances and dividends. As regards the rate at which currency was supplied, I should point out that no official rate exists in the sense of one agreed between His Majesty's Government and the Bulgarian Government. The rate of 3,000 leva to the corresponds in our view more closely to the true value of the leva than the rate at present quoted by the National Bank of Bulgaria, and is not inflationary. While the Bulgarian Government has never been officially informed of the rate used by the office of the British Political Representative, that Government were certainly aware of it since consular fees were based on this rate.