I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the approximate amount of the sums in the hands of the Government arising from unclaimed dividends and other unclaimed moneys in the Bank of England; and whether he will consider the possibility of appropriating all or part of such unclaimed money for the purpose of old-age pensions.

The total nominal value of stock and cash in the hands of the National Debt Commissioners to the credit of the unclaimed stock and dividends account on the 31st March last was £1,841,986. This amount is not, in my opinion, in excess of a reasonable reserve against the liabilities to claimants.