5. Lieut.-Colonel Sir J. NORTONGRIFFITHSasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is in a position to indicate what arrangements, if any, his Department, in conjunction or otherwise with the Oversea Settlement Committee, have made to extend credit facilities for the purchase of materials necessary for the opening up and development of new areas suitable for settlers overseas?
47 and 48. Major Sir GEORGE HAMILTONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when he will be in a position to inform the House under what financial scheme the British Government will co-operate with the various overseas Governments for the financing of railway undertakings necessary for the development of country suitable for settlers;
(2) if he, is now in a position to inform the House of the nature of his financial suggestion which he has submitted to the Cabinet for approval in relation to this country's financial assistance towards Empire development schemes?
§ 51. Colonel VAUGHAN-MORGANasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any new financial proposals to submit to this House in connection with the expressed intention of His Majesty's Government to co-operate with the Dominion Governments in approved railway settlement schemes?
§ Mr. BALDWINI would ask my hon. Friends to await the statement which will be made to-night.
6. Sir J. NORTON-GRIFFITHSasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state what steps the Oversea Settlement Committee are taking with a 1043 view to providing sustenance for the wives and children of approved settlers proceeding overseas until they are in a position to rejoin their husbands and is he aware that there are many married men who are precluded from taking advantage of the overseas settlement scheme owing to their inability to support their wives and families in the first instance?
Lieut.-Colonel BUCKLEYI have been asked to answer this question. The Oversea Settlement Committee attach the utmost importance to family migration and they are aware that many married men are at present precluded from proceeding overseas owing to the difficulty of providing for the maintenance of their families, whilst they themselves are being trained as land settlers. The question of how best to provide at reasonable cost for the maintenance of families during the period in question is a difficult one, but I am giving this particular aspect of the question my special consideration.
33. Sir J. NORTON-GRIFFITHSasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what steps have been taken to form county associations in connection with the Oversea Settlement Committee under the group system?
Lieut.-Colonel BUCKLEYMy hon. and gallant Friend is no doubt aware, from the statements which have appeared in the Press, that a Migration Committee for Devon and Cornwall has been formed by the local authorities in those counties. Negotiations are at. present in progress with the Lord Lieutenant of Kent with a view to the formation of a Migration Committee in that county. It is intended to form one or two County Migration Committees experimentally before deciding whether it is desirable to form such Committees generally throughout the United Kingdom.