§ Mr. Cyril Smithasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much is currently on loan from Her Majesty's Government to overseas Governments; how much has been paid out in new loans in the last year; and what is the average rate of interest on these loans.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonI would refer the hon. Member to Table 24 on page 27 of the CSO's "United Kingdom Balance of Payments 1965–75" entitled "Loans by the UK Government—amounts outstanding". Loans disbursed in 1975 included £23.8 million arising from new agreements entered into during that period. These new loans, which are all carried on the overseas aid programme, bore an average interest rate of 2.42 per cent.