asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to state the earnings and expenditure in foreign currencies of British civil aviation in 1938, 1947. 1948 and 1949.

I regret that the information is not available. It is probable, however, that current earnings and expenditure aggregated over the past three years were approximately in balance, a deficit in the earlier part of this period being offset by a surplus in 1949.

Can the Chancellor tell us whether the dollar earnings and expenditure are in balance on their own?

If the hon. and gallant Gentleman puts a Question on the Order Paper, I expect he will get the same answer as this, but I do not know.