HC Deb 05 December 1963 vol 685 cc1338-9
8. Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what advice he received from the Oversea Migration Board on the future of the grant hitherto given to the Women's Migration Society.

Mr. Hornby

None, Sir.

Mr. Biggs-Davison

Was it, then, entirely on the initiative of my hon. Friend's right hon. Friend that this grant was discontinued?

Mr. Hornby

The Women's Migration Society was informed 15 months ago of the decision to discontinue financial support. This arose out of the recommendations of the Plowden Committee that we should look at some of the grants which were being made the original purpose of which might no longer be appropriate.

Mr. P. Williams

Will my hon. Friend say whether he intends to spend some of the money voted for the Oversea Migration Board, or whether his aim is a permanent need to underspend and perhaps to wind up the Board?

Mr. Hornby

I think that my hon. Friend is under some misapprehension. This grant in aid did not come from funds available under the Commonwealth Settlements Act, for which there is a ceiling sum. It came from totally different funds.