§ 43. Mr. Rentonasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how much of the annual sum of 148W £1,500,000 allocated by Parliament under the Commonwealth Settlement Act will have been spent on assisted passages to other Commonwealth countries during the financial year 1963–64; and how much it is proposed to spend during the coming financial year.
§ Mr. SandysThe sum voted by Parliament for assisted passages under the Commonwealth Settlement Acts, 1922–62 is £150,000 for the current financial year 1963–64. It is fully spent and represents the British Government's contribution to the Anglo-Australian Assisted Passage Agreement. It is proposed to spend a similar sum during the coming financial year.
The figure of £l½ million quoted by my right hon. Friend is the maximum permitted under the Act for annual expenditure on any scheme or schemes. This sum is not voted annually by Parliament and is a ceiling figure for expenditure under the Acts.