HC Deb 14 November 1978 vol 958 cc177-8W
Mr. Ridley

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total outstanding short- and medium-term foreign currency debt was on the following dates: July 1945, October 1951, October 1964, June 1970 and February 1974, in the case of (a) central Government, and (b) local authorities and nationalised industries.

Mr. Robert Sheldon,

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 9th November 1978; Vol. 957, c. 318], gave the following information:

The following figures show the total short- and medium-term foreign currency debt outstanding at the dates listed. The central Government debt comprises borrowing from the IMF—other than within the gold tranche—and from other overseas monetary authorities—including borrowing with a sterling counterpart.

Central Government £ million Local authorities and public corporation
End-July 1945 … N.A. —
End-October 1951 … 11 —
End-October 1964 … 148 —
End-June 1970 … 1,290 69
End-February 1974 … — 1,481