§ 33. Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Attorney-General if he will introduce legislation to enable a substantial proportion of the capital of dormant funds under the control of the Supreme Court of England to be applied for national purposes.
§ The Attorney-GeneralDormant funds are already applied for national purposes in that the income derived from them is surrendered to the Consolidated Fund.
§ Mr. DavisWhy does not the Attorney-General apply part of the corpus of the fund to national constructive purposes along the lines of the legistration introduced by the Irish Government which 914 enabled the Abbey Theatre to be built? If the principle has already been conceded by using the interest, why cannot the corpus be used?
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe hon. Member will appreciate that this is a surplus which is transferred to the National Debt Commissioners and is invested by them. Having regard to what the hon. Member says, I will certainly put the proposal to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.