asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the Colonial Empire has made financial contributions towards the prosecution of the war; and whether these sums have been subscribed with the willing assent of the peoples concerned?

Apart from the contributions made by some Colonial Governments towards the cost of their local military forces, the contributions from the Colonial Empire towards the prosecution of the war now total over £23,000,000. In addition loans have been made to His Majesty's Government free of interest by Colonial Governments and private individuals totalling nearly £8,000,000. Colonial Governments are also paying interest on further loans raised locally by public subscriptions, the proceeds of which have also been lent to His Majesty's Government free of interest. In all cases the sums have been subscribed with the willing assent of the peoples concerned.

Will those sums be taken into consideration when any funds are allocated to the Colonies under the Colonial Welfare Development Act?

I do not quite see what the hon. Member means.