HC Deb 30 January 1934 vol 285 cc192-3
24. Mr. CRAVEN-ELLIS

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will furnish this House with full particulars of the development schemes recommended by the Colonial Development Advisory Committee since its inception, and what is the total of the expenditure involved; and is he satisfied that this committee is taking advantage of every opportunity to develop the colonies to the mutual advantage of the member nations of the British Empire?

Mr. MacDONALD

The particulars for which my hon. Friend asks are contained, so far as relates to the period ending the 31st March, 1933, in the four Interim Reports of the Colonial Development Advisory Committee published as Command Papers under the following numbers:—Cmd. 3540; Cmd. 3876; Cmd. 4079 and Cmd. 4316. Particulars of later schemes will be included in the Fifth Interim Report, which will cover the period from the 1st April, 1933, to the 31st March, 1934. As regards loans from the fund, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on the 6th December last to my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Ross and Cromarty (Sir I. Macpherson). The total amount to be contributed by the Colonial Development Fund in aid of schemes approved before the 31st March, 1933, is £3,054,508. The total estimated expenditure from all sources on the schemes so assisted is about £9,500,000. The reply to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.

Mr. CRAVEN-ELLIS

Does the hon. Gentleman intend to imply by those reports that they represent the limit of the possibilities of development within the Colonies?

Mr. MacDONALD

The reports merely refer to the schemes approved and make no comment otherwise than by implication. The latter part of my reply covers the supplementary question, which indicates that I am satisfied.

Mr. CRAVEN-ELLIS

We maintain that there is a great deal of opportunity in the Colonies—

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member must ask a question.

The following is a list of the major new commitments. In the case of commitments involving legislation, the list includes those which were not covered by legislation in force on 4th May, 1933, and had not been announced to Parliament, either in proposals for legislation or otherwise, at that date. In the case of commitments not involving legislation, the list includes those which were not provided for in the Original Estimates for 1933:
I. SUPPLY SERVICES.
Vote. New Commitment.
Class II, Vote 5 Dominion Services (a) Bechuanaland.
A grant of £140,000 in aid of the revenue of the Protectorate was voted by the House on a Supplementary Estimate in June, 1933; a further sum of £37,000 will be required during the current financial year.
(b) Newfoundland.
(i) An advance of £400,000 to meet the interest on the external debt of Newfoundland during the current year was granted by the House on a Supplementary Estimate in June, 1933.
(ii) Further advances will be made under Section 2 of the Newfoundland Act, 1933, for the purpose of the administration of Newfoundland. The amount of the advances is at present under consideration.
Class II, Vote 7 Empire Marketing A Supplementary Estimate will be presented to enable provision to be made for certain commitments of the Empire Marketing Fund after the 30th September, 1933.
Class II, Vote 12 India Office Indian Defence Expenditure.—His Majesty's Government have decided to recommend the payment to the Indian Government of a grant of £1,500,000 a year (beginning with the year 1933) towards the cost of India's Defence expenditure.
Class IV, Vote 2 British Museum Codex Sinaiticus.—His Majesty's Government have undertaken to make a special contribution of one pound for every pound subscribed by the public towards the purchase price of £100,000.
Class V, Votes 1 and 10. Ministry of Health and Department of Health for Scotland. Rural Water Supplies.—Proposals are before Parliament to authorise these departments to contribute out of Votes towards the provision or improvement of rural water supplies. The contributions will not exceed £1,000,000 in the case of the Ministry of Health and £137,500 in the case of the Department of Health for Scotland. No part of these sums will be spent during 1933.
Class V, Votes 1A and 13. Grants to Local Authorities in Distressed Areas in England, Wales and Scotland. Distressed Areas.—In July, 1933, the House voted amounts of £440,000 (England and Wales) and £60,000 (Scotland) as special grants during 1933 to local authorities in distressed areas.