§ Mr. Trewasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about the amortisation of the interest-free loans made between 1924 and 1945 to voluntary organisations for the establishment in Australia of farm schools for the reception and upbringing of British children.
§ Mr. KershawIt has been accepted that the purpose for which the loans were made under the provisions of the Empire Settlements Acts has long since been justified by the numbers of British children who have passed through the schools. As a gesture of appreciation to the societies concerned and following discussions with the interested Departments, I have come to the conclusion that it would be right to convert the loans into grants.
The total sum involved is £49,700, and the approval of the House will be sought by means of token provision in a Supplementary Estimate.