HC Deb 14 July 1870 vol 203 cc251-2
LORD GARLIES

said, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, in reference to his reply on the 7th instant, as to the apparent discrepancy between the estimated amount and the actual expenditure incurred on the Army Votes for the past year, Whether he can explain the nature of the items of expenditure upon repayment included in the gross estimate, as given in the Estimates for this year, which he explained to have been omitted in the net estimate, excluding such expenditure last year; and, whether he can see any reason for the gross estimate to be given in the one case and the net in the other, considering that they are both designated under the same title of "net amount," after deducting estimated extra receipts and repayments to the Exchequer, on page 4, headed "Statement showing the aggregate amount of the services contained in the Estimates for the three years ending, &c.?"

MR. CARDWELL

I am sure, Sir, the noble Lord has no other object but to obtain the information which I shall be most happy to give. I have the details in my hand, at his service. The largest item in the list is that of clothing. The alteration in the mode of statement has been made to correspond with an alteration in the form of the Army Account recently made under the direction of the Treasury.