§ Mr. George Gardinerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total outstanding foreign currency debt of the public sector at the most recent available date, divided into (a) International Monetary Fund loans, distinguished by tranche, (b) bank loans to central government, (c) bonds, (d) local government borrowing with exchange cover, (e) local government borrowing without exchange cover, (f) nationalised industries, borrowing with exchange cover and (g) nationalised industries borrowing without exchange cover.
§ Mr. Robert Sheldon,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 3 April 1979; Vol. 965, c. 603], gave the following answer:
Foreign currency borrowing outstanding at 31 December 1978 $ bn (a)—IMF (1) oil facility 1.3 (2) January 1977 tranche 0.7 (3) May 1977 tranche 0.2 (4) August 1977 tranche 0.1 (b)—Bank loans to central government 4.0 (c)—Bonds 1.2 (d)—Local government (under ECS) 1.0 (e)—Local government (not under ECS) 0.2 (f)—Nationalised industries (under ECS) 8.7 (g)—Nationalised industries (not under ECS) 2.2 (h)—HMG long term loans 3.7 Total 23.3