§ Questionput, that 3,000,000l. be voted to cover the deficiencies of the revenue for the year 1832.
§ Mr. Humesaid, that he had intended, could he have found a time, to call the attention of the House to the state of the annual supplies. In his opinion the Estimates ought to be laid on the Table before they voted the supplies. The Revenue of the country amounted to about 50,000,000l. but of this sum no more than 17,000,000l. or 18,000,000l. were under the control of the House. A great number of Members knew nothing whatever of the mode in which this was disposed of, for there were no documents which could readily exhibit the real state of things. The custom of referring some taxes to the Consolidated Fund, and others to other heads, produced confusion. He wished there should be laid on the Table a statement of the whole expense of collecting the revenue, as well as of the disbursements made before it entered the 832 Exchequer. It was true these accounts were laid on the Table, but in such a manner that no sort of check could be exercised over them. No control could be effectual until every farthing collected was exhibited on one side, and every farthing expended on the other, and, in addition, every farthing that was voted by the House. He would ask the noble Lord (Lord Althorp), had he any objection to place all the accounts of the expense of collection, &c. before the House? The plan of subjecting the accounts to the annual control of the House, was much better than that of referring them to Committees. He could state instances where the collection of 500l. cost 1,000l., and many more of a similar nature.
§ Lord Althorpsaid, the hon. Member's object was to have the whole expenditure and receipts exhibited on one balance sheet. But the object could be easily attained, for, under the separate heads, accurate accounts were given of every branch, including that of the collection of the revenue. All these were under the control and check of the House. As to forming the Estimates before the expenditure, he (Lord Althorp) deemed that impossible. It was the intention of Ministers to issue a Commission for investigating the collection of the Excise, Customs, and other branches of the revenue. No other course was possible in a matter so complicated; but he hoped that improvements would be effected in the collection of the revenue. There were glaring defects in the present system, and he would endeavour to remedy them.
§ Mr. Herriesthought, that the exhibition of the net as well as the gross receipt and expenditure, would tend to attract Members to the subject, and perhaps make them attempt a diminution of the expense. He wished to know when the noble Lord contemplated the possibility of making his financial statement for the year?
§ Lord Althorpreplied, that the general balance sheet recommended by the hon. member for Middlesex might be beneficial as respected the expenditure of the past year, but not with reference to that of the current year. It was impossible for him now to say when it would be in his power to make his general financial statement. The financial year did not expire until the 5th of April; and it was too much, therefore, to expect that the general statement hould be made so early.
§ Mr. Humeobserved, that the reason why the financial year had been altered from January to April was, that the House might have the Estimates, and the general statement of the financial Minister under their view, before they were required to vote any additional sums. The Commissioners of Public Accounts had been engaged for three years in considering the best means by which those accounts might be simplified—he should like to know what they had done.
The Resolution agreed to; as was also a Resolution for granting to his Majesty the sum of 25,896,000l. to pay off and discharge Exchequer Bills issued on the aids of the years 1832 and 1833.
On the Resolution for granting to his Majesty the sum of 274,050l. to pay off and discharge outstanding Exchequer Bills, issued in aid of public works, building churches, &c.,
§ Mr. Humeexpressed his opinion that the labour of the Commissioners being completed, their salaries should cease.
Resolution agreed to; as was also a Resolution for granting to his Majesty the sum of 1,582,000l. to pay off and discharge Exchequer Bills issued for the payment of the balance due to the four thousand holders of Four per Cents, who had signified their dissent to the conversion of that Stock into Three-and-a-Half per Cents.
§ The House resumed.