§ 56. Sir Nicholas Grattan-Doyleasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what number of loans have been made, and to what amount, by the Special Areas Reconstruction Association, apart from loans approved in principle, in respect of the North-East Special Area?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ColvilleI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Whitehaven (Mr. Anderson) on 3rd December, 1936, from which he will see that it is considered undesirable to give figures for the individual areas covered by the Special Areas Reconstruction Association.
§ Sir N. Grattan-DoyleWill the Government keep steadily in view the necessities of the Special Areas, and will they not issue some announcement before the Special Areas Bill is introduced?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ColvilleThe answer to the first part of the supplementary question is in the affirmative; these special needs are kept in mind. I cannot promise any further announcement at present.
§ Mr. GallacherIs the Financial Secretary aware that there is keen feeling in the Special Areas about the failure to divulge what money is being expended, each area feeling that the Government are spending no money, but are just putting off one area by talking about spending money in another?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ColvilleIf the hon. Member will look at the answer to which I have referred he will see the reasons why my right hon. Friend thinks it undesirable to disclose the amount for each area.
§ Sir N. Grattan-DoyleWill my right hon. and gallant Friend give any indication when the Special Areas Bill will be introduced?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ColvilleThat is another question.