§ Sir D. NEWTONasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the grant made to the Village Clubs Association in respect of income received during the year ending 30th September last was in fulfilment of an undertaking given by the Treasury in a letter dated 20th February, 1922; that the suggestion of the Development Commissioners that the activities of the association should be curtailed will render it impossible usefully to continue the work of the association, 2602W and, in particular, would prevent it from effectively dealing with the applications for assistance from 19 counties which have been referred to it by the Ministry of Agriculture; and whether, under these circumstances, he is prepared to recommend to the Development Commissioners a reconsideration of their decision to withdraw assistance to the association as at present constituted?
§ Sir R. SANDERSI cannot agree that the letter to which my hon. Friend refers contained the undertaking suggested, as the Treasury expressly reserved to itself complete freedom of action as regards the future. Nor can I agree that the course recommended by the Development Commissioners would have the effect suggested in the second part of the question. In reply to the last part of the question, I am not prepared to adopt the course suggested, and, in any case, the Development Commissioners are not bound to adopt any recommendation made by the Ministry in the case of an application for assistance from the Development Fund.