I move:—
That a supplementary sum not exceeding £40,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1957, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Office of the Minister for Local Government, including Grants to Local Authorities, Grants and other Expenses in connection with Housing, and Miscellaneous Grants.
This Supplementary Estimate has been found necessary to meet increased expenditure on schemes being carried out under the Local Authorities (Works) Act, 1949. The previous Government decided to make supplementary grants amounting to £200,000 available to county councils in November, 1956. The amount required to meet commitments on these grants up to the 31st March, 1957, is £120,000. Savings on another sub-head of the Vote amount to £80,000. The net excess of the Vote is, therefore, £40,000 and a Vote for this amount is now required.