§ MR. FLOWER (Bradford. W,)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state the amount of financial assistance given to the West Indian Colonies since the Report of the Royal Commission upon the West Indies in 1897; and, what, if any, further grant it is proposed to make.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINSince the Report of the Royal Commission and including the sums on this year's Estimates, the financial assistance to the West Indies will have amounted in all to about £320,000 in five years, for carrying out the various recommendations of the Commission, over and above sums of £40,000, £25,000, and £17,000 in relief of the distress caused by hurricanes in Barbados, the Windward Islands, and the Leeward Islands. As regards further grants, if any, I cannot make any statement at present, except that, as the hon. Member is no doubt aware, such grants-in-aid as those for the Imperial Department of Agriculture and steamer services are recurrent for some years.
§ MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)Do the sums named by the right hon. Gentleman include loans made under the Colonial Loans Bill?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI think not. They are all grants.