§ SIR JAMES ELPHINSTONEsaid, he would beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, what provision has been made for the cost of the War in China?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid that, as he had only received the Notice of the hon. Member that day, he had not had time to communicate with the Secretary for War, to whom, rather than himself, it pertained to answer the question. He believed, however, that the House was already aware of the provision which had been made for the cost of the Chinese war. It amounted to the sum of £850,000, which was taken as a Vote of Credit for the financial year 1859–60, 1951 but only a portion of which was paid during the financial year, the remainder continuing to be available for the present year. The provision for the war also included a sum in the Estimates of £1,100,000 or £1,200,000 for the present year; and, further, a Vote of Credit proposed to be taken during the present year to the amount of £500,000. That was the provision for the cost of the war as announced to the House four months ago; but, as they were aware, circumstances had changed somewhat since then, and the Secretary for War had intimated that it would be his duty, on an early day, to call attention to the subject in the course of the discussion on the Estimates. No accounts had yet been received, but there were materials for estimating the probable charge beyond what were previously possessed, and full information would be given to the House on the earliest opportunity.
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONsaid, he understood from the Secretary of State for War that the Government would lay upon the Table an Estimate of the probable cost of the Chinese war, and he wished to know when it is likely that that Estimate will be laid on the Table.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, that was a question which the Secretary of State must answer, rather than himself; but he supposed, from the materials which were in the possession of the Government, it would be on a very early day.