This Year's War Expenditure

Chronicle (Levin), 16 August 1946, Page 6

This Year's War Expenditure

Tlue'War Fxpenses Account has now been brouglit to the stage of wliat may | be lermed ' cmopping-up operations. " ; It has been possible at tliis stage to j.eliniinate and transfer to Ihe Consoli1 dated Fund continuing defence items

and to limit tlie use of the account to adjusting unsettled commitmcnts of tlie past, meeting tlie cost of the J Force, and paying eertain items of. piu* rehabilitation. programme. Expenditure for- this year for tlie .residuai costs still chargeable to tlie account is estimated at £32,000,000, as foilows: — Navy: £1,200,000. Armv (including cost of J Force) : £11,000*000. Air (including cost of J Force) : £2,000,000. Unrra: £4,100,000. lieverse lend-lease: £1,500,000. Ivehabilitation: £2,000,000. Purchase of surplus assets from U.W.A.: £1,700,000. Gift of food supplies to Britain: £1,000,000. JVliscellaneous: £(300,000. Total: £32,000,000. Finance for expenditure will be provided by — National savings: £(3,000,000. From L.S.A. Government in reinibursement for war supplies not cligible for reciproea] aid: £3,200,000. Disposal of surplus assets: £10,500,000. 8ale of reserve stocks and other commodities: £5,200,000, iliscellaiieous receipts: £S, 100,000. Total: £33,000,000. (No taxation is required for tliis account.) The estimates for tlie Serviee Departments cover costs eonnected with the.J Force, estimated to amount to £4,000,000, tlie balance being required to nieet accounts unpaid at Marcli 31 last and rapidlv diminisliing charges such as deferred pay, leave privileges. etc., which will be incurred tliis year. The amount provided liere for reliabilitation covers only a snmll portion of the. total programme and is for such items as educational grauts, trade trainiiig, tools of trade, business loans, etc.