asked the Minister for Finance whether any Treasury bills are outstanding on November 6th, 1937; if so, what amount, and what is the date of their maturity.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Treasury Bills.
asked the Minister for Finance whether he intends issuing any further Treasury bills between now and 31st March, 1938.
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 21 and 22 together. On the 16th November, 1937, there were outstanding Exchequer bills to the amount of £500,000. These bills mature on the 31st December, 1937. I am not in a position to state what borrowing (if any) for the Exchequer may be necessary between the present date and March 31st, 1938, nor what form such borrowing might take.
Is the Minister in a position to say whether the tendency is for the Exchequer balance to decline? Is the Exchequer balance at the present time declining?
The Deputy knows as well as I do that the Exchequer balance is a fluctuating quantity.
But is it at present declining?
If the Deputy asked me what is the position this week as compared with last week, I should say that the Exchequer balance has increased.
As compared with last week, but not as compared with the week before?