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Welfare and Development Grants

Oral Answers to Questions — African Colonies – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 12 March 1947.

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Photo of Mr Reginald Sorensen Mr Reginald Sorensen , Leyton West 12:00, 12 March 1947

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the amount of grants made, or about to be made, from the Colonial Welfare and Development Fund in respect of West African Colonies otherwise than on administrative or other large buildings; and what percentage this represents.

Mr. Creech Jones:

The total of schemes made or about to be made under the 1940 and 1945 Colonial Development and Welfare Acts in respect of West Africa is £15 million, of which rather over £3 million is in respect of major building programmes, and about £12 million, or 80 per cent., in respect of other schemes.

Photo of Mr Reginald Sorensen Mr Reginald Sorensen , Leyton West

Is the Minister satisfied that this is a desirable proportion to expend on buildings? Is it not out of all proportion to the amount spent on public works?

Mr. Creech Jones:

Considering the amount of development work which has to be done, and the major public works which have to be put in hand, I do not consider it is too large a proportion.

Photo of Mr Reginald Sorensen Mr Reginald Sorensen , Leyton West

Is the Minister satisfied that the provision of some of these buildings is as important as other work?

Mr. Creech Jones:

There has ben a considerable deficiency in the past two years If development work is to go forward, this work must be put in hand.

Photo of Mr Hector Hughes Mr Hector Hughes , Aberdeen North

Can the right hon. Gentleman give details of the buildings and other development work on which these considerable sums have been spent? Will he consider issuing a white paper?

Mr. Creech Jones:

I doubt whether that can be done, but I will see.

Secretary of State

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Minister

Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.

White Paper

A document issued by the Government laying out its policy, or proposed policy, on a topic of current concern.Although a white paper may occasion consultation as to the details of new legislation, it does signify a clear intention on the part of a government to pass new law. This is a contrast with green papers, which are issued less frequently, are more open-ended and may merely propose a strategy to be implemented in the details of other legislation.

More from wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_paper