asked Her Majesty's Government:What the level of debts written off by the Export Credits Guarantee Department amounted to in the financial year 1979–80, and what were the corresponding figures for the years 1980–81, 1981–82, and 1982–83.

In its trading accounts for the financial years 1979–80 to 1981–82, the Export Credits Guarantee Department made the following provisions for expected irrecoverable loss in respect of claims paid and to be paid in relation to export business underwritten up to the date of the accounts.1979–80 £187.0m (of which £66.2m relates to prior financial years).1980–81 £196.8m (of which £90.4m relates to prior financial years).1981–82 £130.6m (of which £45.2m relates to prior financial years).Corresponding figures for 1982–83 are not yet available, as the trading accounts for that year have not yet been finalised.