HC Deb 20 March 1980 vol 981 c328W
36. Mr. Richard Wainwright

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his present policy on public sector access to international capital markets; and whether he plans to alter this policy.

Sir Geoffrey Howe

It remains the Government's policy to achieve a substantial reduction in the volume of our external debt over the life of this Parliament. This objective necessarily restricts the opportunities for public sector bodies to undertake fresh borrowing in the international capital markets.