59. Captain P. MAC DONALDasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs how expenditure under the Empire Settlement Act of 1922 compared in 1930 with the amount authorised; what is the accumulated balance remaining out of moneys provided by Parliament; and what he proposes to do with such balance?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for DOMINION AFFAIRS (Mr. J. H. Thomas)The net expenditure under the Empire Settlement Act, 1922, during the financial year 1930–31 was approximately £435,000 and the expenditure authorised in the Estimates for the same year was £788,000. There is no accumulated balance as any sums unexpended are surrendered to the Exchequer year by year in accordance with the provisions of the Appropriation Act.
Captain MACDONALDHave the Government any schemes for oversea settlement under consideration at the present time?
§ Mr. THOMASThe short position is that some of the Dominions find themselves unable to give effect to the agreements made between the Dominions and ourselves, and it is not for us to say to them that they ought to stick to their bargains if they find it impossible to do so. Therefore, it would be foolish for the Government to contemplate any scheme under any such circumstances.