asked the Minister for Finance if he will state (a) the amount of external assets of the banking system on 31st December, 1948 and 31st December, 1954, (b) the amount of external assets held under the control of Government Departments on these dates, and (c) the estimate of private holdings of external assets on these dates.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - External Assets.
The external assets of the Central Bank at 31st December, 1948, and 31st December, 1954, amounted to £47.7 million and £86.6 million, respectively, while the net external assets of the commercial banks at the same dates were £131.9 million and £121.3 million. The nominal value of sterling securities held for departmental and court funds is available only for the end of each financial year; at 31st March, 1949, and 31st March, 1955, the figures were £53.5 million and £40.6 million, respectively. No official estimate is available of private holdings of external assets.