§ 85. Mr. Swinglerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he has issued a message to all local authorities suggesting 165W that their capital expenditure in 1956–57 should not exceed that of 1954–55.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI would refer the hon. Member to my statement to the House on 26th October.
§ 87. Mrs. Joyce Butlerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether as an interim measure pending his promised examination of the problems arising for local authorities under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts and Section 4 of the Housing Act, 1949, because of the change of policy in the obtaining of credit by local authorities, he will permit local authorities to obtain from the Public Works Loan Board such sums as they may require for making advances under the above Acts.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI would refer the hon. Member to my Budget statement on 26th October when I said that no authority would be denied the right of access to the Public Works Loan Board. But I see no reason why the Board should not ask any authority, whatever the purpose of its borrowing, about its ability to satisfy its requirements from the market.