§ Mr. MilburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list those trusts that have received either(a) a loan from her Department or (b) an overdraft guarantee in each year since their inception, indicating (i) the amount concerned and (ii) the reason for its allocation.
§ Mr. SackvilleInformation on loans and guarantees will be placed in the Library. No information is available on the reasons why loans are drawn. Trusts borrow principally to support their capital investment activities, but may also borrow to cover working capital requirements. All the borrowing detailed was within agreed limits. Trusts use overdrafts to cover very short-term working capital requirements. The purpose of overdraft guarantees is to reduce the cost of this borrowing from the trusts' bankers.