asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much per annum,' over the last five years, has been remitted severally to Pakistan, India, the West Indies and to other territories by immigrants now permanently resident in the United Kingdom; and what regulations apply to such remittances.

The figures requested are not separately identified in the balance of payments statistics, and I regret the information on which estimates could be based is not available. Under the current exchange control rules any United Kingdom resident may make cash gifts or loans from their own resources of up to £1,000 per calendar year to persons resident in the Overseas Sterling Area, and, in addition, up to £300 per calendar year to persons resident anywhere else outside the

Consultations with the National Federation on various aspects of VAT are continuing. I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12th February to the hon. Member for Guildford (Mr. Howell)—[Vol. 905, c. 307].