§ Colonel Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the British Council recently advanced £38,000 to motor car manufacturers for new cars; and whether he approved this transaction.
§ Mr. MayhewI presume that the transaction to which the hon. Member refers was an advance of £38,000 made by the British Council at the end of the financial year 1945–46 in respect of cars of which the majority were not delivered until the following financial year. This step was taken with the consent of my department. The cars were urgently needed and in the absence of any ruling to the contrary it was considered that the British Council, as a grant-aided body, could properly make use of savings on the grant for the254W year 1945–46 thus to anticipate expenditure in the following year. My right hon. Friend has, however, ruled that this procedure is not to be repeated.