asked the Minister for Finance if, in respect of each year since January, 1937, he will furnish a statement bringing up to date the particulars given in the table contained in paragraph 325, page 206, of the report of the Commission of Inquiry into Banking, Currency and Credit, 1938.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Banking, Currency and Credit.
No figures later than those contained in the table referred to by the Deputy are available in respect of farmers' deposits. Details of advances published in the Central Bank's quarterly statistical bulletin under the group heading "Farmers and Agriculture" are as follows from January, 1949:—
|
£ Million |
|
|
January, 1949 |
11.49 |
|
January, 1950 |
12.01 |
|
December, 1950 |
12.65 |
|
January, 1952 |
13.14 |
|
January, 1953 |
12.57 |
|
January, 1954 |
13.16 |
|
January, 1955 |
14.09 |
|
January, 1956 |
17.7 |
I am aware that the advances are available, but in view of the fact that the deposit returns, the amount deposited, were available for 1935, 1936 and 1937, can the Minister arrange to have the deposit figures made available, because they are available somewhere? In view of the fact that the advances made are published, is there any further reason why the deposit figures are not published?
The deposit figures in that year were published specially for the Banking Commission, but have not since been published.
I appreciate that, but in view of the fact that the question of agriculture enters so much into our economy, would the Minister not consider it desirable to have the amount of the deposits available, so that the public would realise that the banks are not making advances in proportion to the amount deposited by the farmers?
So far as the latter part of the Deputy's supplementary is concerned, that hardly arises. So far as the former is concerned, perhaps that is one of the matters that the Capital Investment Committee will consider.