§ 36. Mr. LENNOX-BOYDasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the aggregate amount of loans for allotment purposes raised by parish councils with the Public Works Loans Board and still outstanding; and whether he will take action to ameliorate the position for parish councils, in view of the lower rates of interest which now obtain?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAThe amount outstanding of loans made to parish councils for allotment purposes from the Local Loans Fund is £151,869. The rates of interest charged on advances from that fund have recently been reduced, as my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, but 1781 there is no possibility of a reduction in the rates chargeable on advances made prior to that reduction.