§ 2.43 p.m.
§ LORD BARNBYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what, for each of the past two completed financial years, was the total advanced by the Treasury towards development of New Towns; also what is the amount of present commitment for the current financial year.]
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES (LORD MITCHISON)My Lords, the total amounts advanced by the Treasury for New Town development, including advances to the Commission for the New Towns, were in 1963–64 £28.9 million and in 1964–65 £40.3 million. The total expected to be advanced for the current financial year is £51.7 million.
§ LORD BARNBYMy Lords, the figures indicated by the reply sound very massive. Can the noble Lord indicate whether any thought is being given to greater expenditure than the derisory amount of £200,000 a year, for spreading a better knowledge of the possibilities that exist for emigrants to the Dominions, since the Dominions which have the greatest number of British immigrants are the biggest purchasers of exports from this country?
§ LORD MITCHISONMy Lords, this matter is rather remote from the expenditure on New Towns, and I should require notice.
§ LORD BARNBYMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether he would be good enough to pass on my observation to the appropriate quarter for consideration?
LORD MTTCHISONMy Lords, I am sure that the "appropriate quarter", whatever it is, reads Hansard and pays profound attention to whatever is said here. Perhaps we could leave it at that. If there is any particular question that the noble Lord would like to ask, if he could indicate it to me I would certainly do my best to find an answer about the matter.
§ LORD BARNBYMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord. The reason why I raised the question was that the expenditure on New Towns sounds very massive at a moment, when the aim is for economies in society.