§ Mr. Richard Shepherdasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the increase or decrease in national savings over the most recent three-month period for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures in the same period of the previous five years.
§ Mr. Lawson[pursuant to his reply, 26 October 1979, c. 358]: The most recent three-month period for which figures are available is July to September 1979. The net changes in balances, including accrued interest, administered by the department for national savings for the period of July to September in the last six years are:
£ million 1974 - 1.1 1975 + 93.2 1976 + 150.9 1977 + 371.4 1978 + 93.4 1979 *+ 237.4 * Provisional Source: CSO financial statistics, table 3.14—1979 figure awaits publication.