§ Mr. Maxwellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will provide financial assistance to the Catering Sub-Committee to enable the Department to repay its bank overdraft resulting from losses incurred over the past three years arising from the special problems caused by the need to provide catering facilities to match the parliamentary timetable.
§ Mr. CallaghanI am prepared to arrange a repayable loan of £50,000 at the normal Government credit rate of interest for short-term loans, to help the Sub-Committee in its present difficulties, and to arrange for discussions on the possibility of a Grant-in-Aid. A Supplementary Estimate to cover any payments will be introduced in due course.