§ Mr. Kelleyasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will sanction expenditure by rural and urban district councils who wish to make contributions to the Aberfan disaster fund.
§ Mr. MacCollYes. My right hon. Friend will be willing to sanction such expenditure by any local authority in England which applies to him under Section 228 of the Local Government Act, 1933, and I understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales will do likewise for local authorities in Wales.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland asks me to add that Scottish local authorities do not at present have powers to contribute from the rates, although the possibility of amending the law is being urgently considered.