§ 37. Mr. TOUCHEasked on what grounds and by whom the expansion of demands for loans from the Public Works Loan 352 Commissioners, for which an additional £1,000,000 was provided for the year 1912–13, was anticipated; did the Public Works Loan Commissioners submit any evidence in support of the additional requirement; has any part of the additional sum been utilised; and, seeing that it was not ear-marked for any special purpose, will he say with whom the proposal to authorise the additional £1,000,000 originated, and after what inquiry it was provided for in the Public Works Loan Act, 1912?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe suggestion that the maximum within which the Public Works Loan Commissioners might lend should be increased originated with the Local Government Board, who anticipated a possible expansion of demands for loans, and on consideration the Treasury thought it advisable to adopt the suggestion. No part of the additional sum has been utilised. I may add that the amount specified in the Public Works Loans Act is the maximum sum which may be issued by the National Debt Commissioners during the period covered by the Act, and that cash is only issued by the National Debt Commissioners as required by the Public Works Loan Commissioners for the purposes of actual advances.
§ Mr. TOUCHEHad the Local Government Board any particular class of loans in view when they made this suggestion?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI am not quite sure about that. Perhaps the hon. Member will put a question to the Local Government Board.