Mr. PRESTONasked the Minister of Health if he can make any statement as to the present position of necessitous areas and as to any special measures which the Government is taking for their assistance?
§ Sir K. WOODMy hon. Friend is of course aware of the help given by the Government to local authorities in dis-88W tressed areas by way of loans and by grants in aid of schemes for the relief of unemployment. In addition my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has recently appointed a Committee to consider and report on schemes which may be submitted to them for special assistance from the Exchequer to local authorities in necessitous areas, and the question of giving further Government help to such authorities must await the findings of that Committee.