asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the sum total of our annual external obligations in gold pounds or foreign currency, excluding the War Debt to America but including our contribution to the League of Nations, and any guarantee as, for instance, the Turkish Loan of 1855?

In the calendar year 1930 the payments made by the Government in foreign currency, excluding the War Debt to the United States Government, amounted to about £16,000,000 and the Government's receipts in foreign currency, excluding reparations and inter-governmental War Debts, to about £24,500,000; the surplus of foreign receipts over foreign payments (excluding War Debts, etc.) thus amounted to about £8,500,000. As regards Loans guaranteed by His Majesty's Government I would refer the right hon. and gallant Member to the full statement published annually in the Finance Accounts.