§ Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions, if he will state, down to the latest date for which the information can conveniently be given and as from the date of the establishment of the Ministry, how much capital has been advanced by the Ministry of Munitions to private capitalists for the extension of existing works, or for the establishment of new ones, or for any other similar purpose connected with the manufacture or supply of munitions or materials?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYWhen the Ministry of Munitions was established it became necessary, owing to the shortage of munitions supply, greatly to increase the facilities for production. For this purpose measures were taken to increase the plant and extend the work of certain manufacturers, some of whom had been engaged on work of a related character, and others, at the request of the Ministry, undertook munitions production for the first time Extension of existing works, where practicable, ensured production more rapidly than would have been the case if new factories had been erected. The capital actually advanced by the Ministry of Munitions to manufacturers for the extension of existing works, or for the establishment of new ones, or for 3449W any other similar purpose connected with the manufacture or supply of munitions or materials, amounted, on the 31st October, 1918, to about £36,000,000. Of this sum roughly £12,000,000 represents recoverable banking loans, and roughly £17,000,000 recoverable loans for the extension of existing works or the establishment of new ones, while the remaining £7,000,000 represents grants and other advances, a considerable part of which will be refunded to the extent of special allowances which will be made to the firms by the Inland Revenue Commissioners under Section 40 (3) of the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1915.