38. Mr. 'BATEYasked the Minister of Labour whether he can separate the total amount of £3,443,000 stated by the Commissioner of the Distressed Areas in his last report as expenditure and commitments, and state how much is expenditure and how much commitments?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADApproximately £330,000 of the £3,443,000 referred 871 to relates to expenditure by the Commissioner and the balance to commitments. As the Commissioner for the Special Areas (England and Wales) explained in his report, actual expenditure on schemes must necessarily be considerably in arrear of commitments in the early stages of the work.