Former MP for Pontypool
Can the right hon. Gentleman say when it is intended to take the Second Reading of the Distribution of Industry Bill?
Will it be before Easter?
I would like to get this point clear. I understood the hon. Gentleman to say he wad in favour of satellite towns and that he wants to segregate the industrial populations who live in them from the agricultural populations. As I understood the Minister, he thought that it would be to the advantage of both if they lived more together than they have done during the last century.
Having listened to this Debate both to-day and on the previous occasion, I do not think it can be said there is a great deal of opposition to the Bill. Some hon. Members have raised the question of the taking away of certain liberties from local authorities in so far as they will not have the opportunity to continue to borrow where they wish. That point was raised in the main, perhaps, by the...
It is rather better at the present time. It is true that some loans are being raised at present at 2¾ per cent., perhaps at 3 per cent., but for the nation we have raised money at 2 per cent. during the war. Can we do that in peace-time? I have already told the House that the difference between 2 and 3 per cent. on this housing scheme will amount to £20,000,000 a year. I want to save that...
Would that Committee determine the priority in the case which has been stated?
I did not call it "trickery."
I think it prevents capital expenditure being incurred out of revenue. The point is to accumulate sufficient revenue to carry out a scheme without borrowing.
