HC Deb 22 March 1950 vol 472 cc1962-3
53. Mr. Rankin

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the total sum of money Which has now been allocated for Colonial development out of the £120 million under the Act; how much of the money allocated has actually been expended; and what have been the figures of expenditure over the last five years.

Mr. J. Griffiths

As the answer to the Question is rather long, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, include it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the statement:

There are three stages in the process of administering funds made available under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act: (a) allocating the £120 million to

Colonial Governments and central services; (b) approving schemes within the allocations so made; (c) issuing money in accordance with the terms of approval of the schemes.

  1. (a) £117½ million out of the £120 million has been allocated to date to Colonial Governments and central services such as research, surveys, training, etc.: the balance of £2½ million remains as an unallocated reserve.
  2. (b) The total sum approved for schemes counting against the £120 million is about £64 million.
  3. (c) Issues made to date from the Colonial Development and Welfare Vote since the Act came into force on 1st April, 1946, amount to nearly £29 million. Issues made in each of the last four years are, in round figures, as follows:

£
1946–47 3,545,000
1947–48 5,340,000
1948–49 6,355,000
1949–50 (estimate) 13,710,000

I would refer my hon. Friend to House of Commons Paper No. 211 of 7th July, 1949, for further detailed information on the matter.