§ 9 and 21. Sir FREDERICK THOMSONasked the Minister of Labour (1) whether the application to her Department of the Aberdeen Harbour Commissioners in respect of dock improvement and extension schemes falls to be considered for grant on a non-revenue producing basis;
(2) how many applications have been received in her Department from dock and harbour authorities in respect of accelerated schemes of extension; how many authorities have accepted the terms offered by her Department; and what is the total amount involved in the schemes in which the terms have been accepted?
§ Miss BONDFIELDFormal application has been made by three authorities and inquiries, including one from the Aberdeen Harbour Commissioners, have been received from a number of others. In all these cases negotiations are still proceeding. The financial terms offered to such authorities, which were those applying to revenue-producing schemes, have been materially improved, as was announced by the Chancellor of the Duchy last Monday, and are in my opinion such as should enable the negotiations to be brought to a satisfactory conclusion in all cases where works of real magnitude are proposed, and should also bring in applications from other authorities.
§ Sir F. THOMSONMay I ask the Minister of Labour whether she realises that these terms are not satisfactory to a large number of undertakings, and whether she realises that these bodies are not carried on solely for profit?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI did not use the word "profit"; I used the words "revenue producing schemes."
§ Sir F. THOMSONMay I point out that the word "profit" is used in the Statute under which the right hon. Lady is acting.
§ Mr. ERNEST BROWNWill the right hon. Lady give consideration to the statement made by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster as to the percentage increase for revenue producing schemes, seeing that for short-term schemes this is little better than the old terms.
§ Miss BONDFIELDUnder the previous terms, half the interest on the loan was allowed for a maximum period of 15 years. Under the new terms, 100 per cent. interest on the loan is allowed for the period of construction and half interest thereafter for a maximum period of 15 years. I do not think that can be regarded as small.
§ Mr. BROWNWill the Minister of Labour follow my question? As to the schemes which are put up for a period of 15 months—I agree that in the cases where it is five or six years it is a large improvement—