Mr. H. Wilsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in a White Paper, or in a Government publication, or in the OFFICIAL REPORT, an analysis of recent changes in the sterling balances of Colonial and other Commonwealth countries, showing how far variations therein are due to changes in the balance of trade, gold movements, grants and Government loans, and private investments, respectively.
§ Mr. P. Thorneycroft:An analysis of all these matters is available for the sterling area as a whole in the White Paper on the Balance of Payments, and details of Colonial Territories are given in the Annual Reports of the Secretary of State for the Colonies. As the right hon. Gentleman will know, it would be contrary to our practice to give figures for the sterling holdings of individual countries. However, if he will let me know more exactly what he has in mind I will gladly consider whether anything could be done.