§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, pursuant to the answer of 3 November, he will state the net cash surpluses retained by the Post Office within its business from 1980–81 to 1985–86.
§ Mr. PattieThe external financing limits set for the Post Office's postal business and its performance against those limits for the years 1980–81 to 1985–86 are set out in the Post Office report and accounts 1985–86, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, pursuant to the answer of 3 November, he will state (a) the destinations and amounts loaned in each case of cash surpluses of the Post Office required by its external financing limits in the years 1980–81 to 1985–86; how much 560W interest has been earned by the Post Office on this money in each year; and if this interest is part of the operating surplus of the Post Office.
§ Mr. PattieLoans of cash surpluses required by negative external financing limits are not separately identified by the Post Office but are included in the generality of lending and borrowing undertaken in the course of its business. Similarly, interest earned on such loans is not separately identified but forms part of the profits generated by the business and reported in the accounts. The total net interest receivable by the postal business in the years 1980–81 to 1985–86 is given in the 1985–86 report and accounts, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.