MR. RIDLEYsaid, he wished to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to take any steps during the present Session to carry out the Recommendations of the Select Committee on Public monies, and more particularly with reference to the appointment of an annual Committee of 156 this House to inquire into the expenditure of the monies voted by Parliament.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERreplied, that it was not the intention of the Government to attempt during the present Session to take any measures for carrying into effect the recommendations of the Committee on Public Monies, but this decision did not arise from any disapproval of those recommendations, and more especially of the suggestion that a Committee should be appointed to inquire into the expenditure of monies voted by Parliament. He thought the adoption of that recommendation was, in fact, almost necessary to complete the discharge of the functions of the House of Commons with respect to the expenditure of public money; but he believed that it would not have been practicable at the time the Government acceded to office to appoint such a Committee with advantage, because the state of the previous arrangements in the various departments were not sufficiently advanced to enable the Committee to undertake the duties which would devolve upon them.