§ Mr. Gaitskellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what basis it is proposed to continue some form of Exchequer assistance for the Civil Service Sports Council.
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§ Mr. DaltonIn 1938 and 1939 Parliament voted annual grants of £20,000 to the Civil Service Sports Council. In September, 1939, the Council, on its own initiative, proposed that the grant should be reduced to £2,000 a year, and it has remained at that figure since April, 1940. I am satisfied that the time has now come to revert to the pre-war scale of assistance for the activities of the Council, and I propose that a grant of £20,000 should be included in the Estimates for 1946 and subsequent years. In addition, it is proposed that further assistance should be given by loans, to facilitate the purchase and initial development of sports grounds to be acquired by the Sports Council. Appropriate provision under this head will be included in the Annual Estimates.