§ Order for Third Reading read.
§ Motion made, and questions proposed, "That the Bill be now read the third time."—(Lord Frederick Cavendish.)
§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNORsaid, he did not wish to oppose the third reading of this Bill; but he was not aware that, either on the introduction of the Bill, or the second reading, or in Committee, had the noble Lord the Secretary to the Treasury, who in charge of it, made any statement as to the present position of the Consolidated Fund. He hoped the noble Lord would furnish to the House a Return showing the state of the Fund at present, together with the amount raised in the shape of Exchequer Bounds, and the amount cleared off in Exchequer Bounds, as well as the amount raised in Exchequer Bills, and the amount paid off. If the noble Lord would do that he(Mr. Arthur O'Connor) would be perfectly satisfied; but when he asked that the House should have that information he did not think he was asking too much.
§ Lord FREDERICK CAVENDISHsaid, he had already stated that the Bill was introduced for the simple purpose of providing Ways and Means that would come in payment in the course of the present financial year. It was not advisable that any statement should now be made which would anticipate the Financial statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the accounts would show fully all that the hon. Member desired. The present Bill was simply for the purpose of paying off £2,500,000 of Exchequer Bonds which were about to fall due.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ Bill read the third tome, and passed.[New Title]