45. Sir JOHN HARMOOD-BANNERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the maximum and minimum amounts of advances from Ways and Means in the years 1920, 1921, 1921–22, 1922–23, and the interest, if any, paid to the Bank of England and to other Government Departments?
§ Mr. BALDWINWith the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate the figures in the Orneua REPORT.
§ The figures are as follow:
§ (2) whether he is aware that the Development Commissioners have offered to make a small grant to the Village Clubs Association on condition that it restricted its operations; and whether a similar condition has been attached to the grants made to any other organisation;
§ (3) what was the total amount spent by the Food Production Department in 1065 establishing and organising women's institutes; and what was the total amount subsequently given out of the Development Fund to the National Federation of Women's Institutes?
§ Major BOYD-CARPENTERThe total amount of grants actually paid from the Development Fund to the Village Clubs Association up to the 31st March, 1923, was £16,978. I am aware that the Development Commissioners indicated that they were prepared to recommend a grant of a certain amount to the Association in respect of the year beginning the 1st October, 1922, on condition that expenditure upon the Headquarters of the Association was restricted, but I am informed that, in the opinion of the Commissioners, such curtailment need not involve a restriction of the operations of the Association. Conditions as to the reduction of Headquarters expenditure have been made in the case of other organisations. I understand that the work of establishing and organising women's institutes was carried out as part of the normal duties of the Food Production Department with certain outside assistance. The expenditure from October, 1917, to November, 1919, when the National Federation of Women's Institutes took over the work, was approximately as follows:
£ Salaries and travelling expenses 7,742 Grants to National Federation of Women's Institutes from Food Production Department Funds 1,900 Indirect expenditure, i.e., services rendered and expenses borne by other Departments —Office of Works, Stationery Office, Post Office, etc. (Estimate) 3,871 £13,513
§ The total amount subsequently paid out of the Development Fund to the National Federation of Women's Institutes up to the 31st March, 1923, was £30,128.
1066Mr. J. H. SIMPSONArising out of the, middle portion of that answer, in view of the very small sum that is involved and the very great service which these village clubs perform to the residents, cannot the Development Commissioners see their way to increase the grant this year?
§ Major BOYD-CARPENTERThere is correspondence going on at present about it.