§ Miss Quennellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total of United Kingdom investment overseas now; what annual income is received from it; and what relationship the total has as a percentage of the gross national product.
§ Mr. NottThe total value of identified United Kingdom external assets at the end of 1971, the latest date for which a figure is available, was £23,785 million. Interest, profits and dividends received on overseas investments in 1971 amounted to £1,420 million. Gross national product, at factor cost, in 1971 was £48,216 million; it is not meaningful to express the total value of external assets as a percentage of the gross national product.
§ Miss Quennellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the surplus on the United Kingdom invisible account for 1972 was derived from interest received on United Kingdom overseas investments.
§ Mr. NottTotal receipts seasonally adjusted on the United Kingdom invisible account for the first three quarters of 1972 were £4,267 million, of which total receipts in the form of interest, profits and dividends on overseas investments amounted to £1,084 million (25 per cent.). The net surplus on the invisible account seasonally adjusted for the same period, was £496 million, of which the net surplus of interest, profits and dividends was £292 million (59 per cent.). Figures for the whole of 1972 will be published in the March 1973 issue of "Economic Trends".