§ Sir LUKE WHITEasked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the effect upon health resorts owing to the shortage of visitors and the entire absence of excursionists at the busiest period of the year, the Local Government Board will be prepared to sanction the postponement of sums due for principal money during the coming financial year in cases where health resorts are able to agree with the lenders for such a postponement?
§ Mr. NOEL BUXTONasked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the difficulty which will be experienced this year in the payment of rates at places where trade is injured by the War, he will consider the question of permitting local authorities in those places to defer for twelve months the annual repayment of loans and interest so that the rates may be relieved?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI will answer these two questions together. I have no power to give the suggested permission. In any case the position must be considered of the lenders, among whom are many friendly societies, trade unions, and investors of small means, and also the effect which such a measure would have upon the credit of local authorities.