68. Dr. Morganasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many other persons were allowed facilities affecting the amount of money allowed to be taken out of the country, similar to those allowed to Miss Grade Fields; and whether he will arrange for a list of those allowed amounts up to, say, £500 to be put in the Library for the information of Members?
§ Captain CrookshankRemittances mainly for business purposes are allowed in a great number of cases. It would not be practicable to give the total number of such remittances nor, for the reasons which I gave in my answer to the hon. Member for Maryhill (Mr Davidson) on Tuesday last, would it be appropriate or desirable to give lists and details.
Dr. MorganWhy is it practicable to give information in one case and not on the general, question, and why cannot Ministers give information to Members of Parliament?
§ Captain CrookshankI explained those matters last week.
§ Captain BellengerIs it the practice that applications for excessive sums of money to be taken out of the country come before the Minister or his right lion. Friend for approval, or are they dealt with in the Department by officials?
§ Captain CrookshankWhoever deals with the actual applications, the responsibility for answering for such action is that of my right hon. Friend or myself. It might be as well for hon. Members to understand that no conceivable blame can rest on applicants because of the amount for which they apply, and that if indeed anything has been done wrong it is by the people who give the grants.