§ Mr. G. WHITEasked the Minister of Agriculture if credit balances in the hands of local authorities arising from the provision of allotments under the Cultivation of Lands Order have been collected by the Ministry; and, if not, will he consider the advisability of devoting such balances to the extension of allotments in the areas in which they accrued?
§ Mr. BUXTONThe great majority of credit balances have already been received from the local authorities concerned, and the Ministry is in communication with those authorities which have either not yet furnished complete accounts or not forwarded credit balances. In reply to the last part of the hon. Member's question, I am not pre-62W pared to adopt the suggestion that credit balances, which are monies of the Crown, should remain in the hands of local authorities, as this would amount in effect to a State subsidy not authorised by Parliament.