§ Mr. CLANCYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention had been drawn to a statement issued by the Development Commissioners in regard to applications for help out of the Development Fund for the establishment of motor services in rural districts; whether he was aware that one of the conditions required was that application should be made only for an advance towards the initial capital expenditure necessary; and that the 789 advance should be by way of loan rather than by way of grant; whether he was further aware that many local bodies in Ireland regarded those conditions especially, but all the other conditions also, as practically putting an end to all attempts to establish motor services in that country; and whether in view of his statement on the 6th September, 1909, that he had put in the forefront of the Development Fund Bill the improvement of transport for the poorer and more thinly populated parts of the country, he would consider the advisability of taking some steps, whether by way of legislation or otherwise, to alter a policy which, if persisted in by the Development Commissioners, was calculated to defeat the intentions of the Act of 1909?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEMy attention has been drawn to the conditions laid down by the Development Commissioners for advances for this purpose. I cannot agree with the hon. Member that the system of making loans for the establishment of motor services on condition that local aid is forthcoming will be ineffective in districts where there is a real need for such a service.