§ Mr. JOHN O'DONNELLasked the Chief Secretary if he will state whether the Development Commissioners will 602W frame development schemes on their own initiative; if not, on whose initiative or instructions may they do so; whether the Treasury regulations authorised by Section 1, Sub-section (2), of the Act have yet been drawn up; if so, whether he will order them to be laid upon the Table of the House; and, if not, when will they be available for the use of, or inspection by, persons who are interested in works which come under the provisions of the Act referred to?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEBy Sub-section (4) of Section 4 of the Act of last Session the Commissioners can frame schemes on their own initiative. The regulations referred to in Section 1 (2) of the Act have not yet been drawn up, but will be framed as soon as the Commission has been appointed.
§ Mr. JOHN O'DONNELLasked the Chief Secretary whether he will state the name of the department through which persons or associations are qualified for the receipt of advances of money under the Development and Road Improvement Funds Act; what does the term association of persons, in Section 1 of the Act, mean; whether the department through which advances are to be made has to report in favour of an advance before the application for it can be entertained by the Development Commissioners; and whether, in the event of the department reporting against the advance, must it necessarily be refused without fully stating what the grounds of the refusal may be?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe Government Department, through which the advances will be made will be in each case the Department within whose scope the particular object for which the advance is made, would fall in the ordinary course of administration. The term "association of persons" in Section 1 of the Development and Road Improvement Funds Act is advisedly of a general nature, so as to include any societies or other bodies, such as Chambers of Agriculture, etc., not trading for profit. The answer to the third part of the question is in the negative. As regards the last part, an application for a grant will not necessarily be refused in the event of a Government Department advising against it.
§ Mr. JOHN O'DONNELLasked the Chief Secretary whether he will state if it is in the power of the Development Com- 603W missioners and the Treasury to loan out for development purposes the whole of the funds available under the Act, to refuse or make free Grants at will in cases where in their opinion the public interest would be best served by a refusal or a Grant; what will the rate per cent, for interest and Sinking Fund be, and over what period will instalment payments on the loans extend; whether it is intended to so administer the Development Fund Act that the £2,500,000 to be paid into it under Section 2 of that Act shall be paid out in free Grants within any particular time or at all on works of development in various parts of the country?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEIt is within the power of the Treasury, on the recommendation of the Development Commissioners, to make advances, either by way of grant or loan, out of, and up to the total amount of, the Development Fund. It will also be within the power of the Treasury to refuse to make an advance in any particular case. The rate per cent, for interest, etc., and the periods for repayment, will depend upon the circumstances of each case. It is the intention of the Government that the money paid into the fund should be utilised for the purpose set forth in Section 1 of the Act of last Session. Grants are not required to be applied for or made within any specified time.