EARL of RONALDSHAYasked the Prime Minister if, in view of the necessity for the curtailment of expenditure, he will consider the advisability of suspending the Development Fund Grant during the period of the War?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe annual Grant to the Fund provided by Section 2 (2) of the Development, etc., Act, 1909, for a period of five years has now ceased, and no1506W specific Vote for the Fund under Section 2 (1) (a) has been taken since the year 1910–11. Steps have already been taken to restrict the expenditure out of the balance in hand during the period of the War, and the Development Commissioners have been asked to reduce as far as possible the cost of maintaining schemes previously sanctioned.