§ Lieut.-Colonel NALLasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, before deciding to give assistance from public funds to farmers' co-operative societies and other agricultural co-operative associations, any comprehensive inquiry into the balance sheets of such organisations was made by competent accountants in order to ascertain whether this policy will lead to a loss of public money such as has occurred in other instances in which the State has financed business concerns in competition with private enterprise?
§ Sir R. SANDERSBefore any loans are made to agricultural co-operative enterprises, the Ministry will obtain full information as to the financial position of the society, and it is proposed that the scheme shall contain provisions requiring periodical audit of the accounts and empowering the Ministry to examine the books of the society at any time.