§ 48. Mr. Albuasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those classes of matters affecting the administration of grant-aided bodies upon which he is now prepared to answer Questions, despite previous refusals to answer on the ground that they were matters of day-to-day administration by the body concerned.
Mr. AmoryIn general, as regards grants-in-aid borne on Votes accounted for by the Treasury, I am ready to answer Questions about the size of the grants and about any matters which by Statute or otherwise are reserved to the Treasury or require Treasury approval. I am also willing to give factual information about the activities of the body concerned when the facts are available and where this is compatible with the general principle that the administration of a grant-aided body and the way in which it spends its grant are matters for the body concerned and are not the responsibility of the Government.
§ Mr. AlbuAs there are about 150 grants in aid and as the practice in answering for them varies greatly, and as the largest is that made by the Treasury itself, to the University Grants Committee, does not the right hon. 1116 Gentleman think that he might adopt the slightly more liberal attitude announced on 25th February by his right hon. Friend the Leader of the House for the answering of Questions on the nationalised industries?
Mr. AmoryWill the hon. Gentleman be good enough carefully to read my Answer? If there are any points outside that Answer which he thinks it reasonable that I should be prepared to deal with, I should be glad if he would write to me, in which case I will look into it.