Catalogue description Special Areas Loans Advisory Committee (Portal Committee): Minutes and Papers

The Special Areas (Development and Improvement) Act came into operation in December, 1934.

Under this Act, two commissioners were established for England and Wales and for Scotland respectively, who were charged with the initiation, organisation, prosecution and assistance of measures designed to facilitate the economic development and social improvement of the areas. A "Special Areas Fund" was constituted to finance their work to which a sum of £2,000,000 was initially voted. A further £3,000,000 was voted in 1936, and £3,500,000 was included in the Estimates for 1937.

The powers of the commissioners included a wide range of activities on general economic development and on social improvement in the Special Areas, but they were expressly precluded by Parliament from giving assistance to private enterprise carried on for gain. The Act as passed was extended to 31 May, 1937; it continued with the additional measures which are hereafter referred to and described in detail in this paper.

The work of the commissioners has been concerned with the social improvement of the Special Areas, and with the creation of conditions that would facilitate the revival of industry in them, and, in particular, would pave the way for the introduction of those new industries which are needed to broaden the economic b+asis and secure the development of their industrial life - see report, Cmnd Paper 5386.

The Special Areas Loans Advisory Committee was established in 1937 under section 5(1) of the Special Areas (Amendment) Act, 1937. Its purpose was to advise on the provision of financial assistance by way of loans to industrial undertakings in the Special Areas (North-East England, Cumberland, South Wales and parts of East Scotland).

The Committee consisted of Lord Portal, Lord Woolton and Sir Nigel Campbell.

The last official meeting was in September, 1948.