asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the £3·7 million loans and grants referred to in his reply to the hon. Member for Croydon, North-West on 1st August 1975 were approved in a Consolidated Fund Act in a similar manner to the loan made to W. & C. French (Construction) Ltd.; and whether he will give the relevant details or alternatively explain the reason for the different procedure.

All supply estimates are authorised by a Consolidated Fund or Appropriation Act. A supplementary estimate was necessary to provide for a loan to W. & C. French (Construction) Limited because there was no suitable sub-head in the existing Roads &c England Vote. Of the payments made on previous occasions, £3·6 million of the £3·7 million was assistance to contractors for increases in the cost of hydro-carbon products and the remaining £100,000 an advance payment of a sum due under a contract.