MR. WILSONsaid, he would now beg to give notice that it was his intention to move to-morrow night the Civil Service Estimates as soon as the Chairman of Ways and Means took the chair in Committee of Supply. He proposed, then, to make a general statement in reference to the large increase of charges which had taken place within the last five or six years in connection with those Estimates, in order to afford the House ample opportunity for discussing a question in which it was evident the public had of late taken much interest. He thought it would be better to take the course which he had indicated than to leave the question to be dealt with in a desultory discussion upon each Vote as it arose.
§ MR. HENLEYsaid, he wished to know whether he understood that the Secretary of the Treasury intended to bring on a general discussion of the Civil Service Estimates, because a portion of the Civil Estimates were only delivered that morning, and the House would scarcely be ready to-morrow to go into a general discussion of those Estimates?
MR. WILSONsaid, that his intention was, on going into Committee of Supply when the Chairman of Ways and Means was in the chair, to make a general statement, not having reference to the Esti- 1567 mates of the present year, but to the great increase which had taken place in those Estimates from 1852 to 1856, including those of the present year. Six numbers of those Estimates were now in the hands of Members, but the seventh, which contained the accidental and occasional charges of the year, would not he ready for some time.
§ MR. DISRAELII should like to know, Sir, whether the hon. Member intends, when the House is in Committee of Supply, to go into the Civil Estimates or not?
MR. WILSONYes, certainly. After any remarks which hon. Members may make, I shall propose the first Vote in the Civil Service Estimates.
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERWhat my hon. Friend proposes is, in moving the first Resolution in Committee of Supply, to make a statement of the causes and nature of the increase that has taken place of late years in the total amount of the Miscellaneous or Civil Service Estimates, with a view, not of giving a general view of all the particular Votes, but of stating the nature of the augmentations which have taken place of late years in the Civil Estimates.
§ SIR HENRY WILLOUGHBYsaid, he wished to ask the right hon. Gentleman in the Chair whether the Secretary to the Treasury would be in order in taking a general discussion on a single Vote? He had been himself called to order on a similar occasion, and told that he must confine himself to the particular subject under discussion on the Vote before the House.
§ MR. SPEAKERIn answer to the question of the hon. Member, I conceive that if the Secretary to the Treasury explains, for the convenience of the House and for the general information of Members, the foundation on which these Votes are offered to the House he will not be out of order in so doing.
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, that as his noble Friend at the head of the Government would not be in his place to-night, the Report on the Committee of Supply would not be brought up that evening. There were several Notices of Motion on the Report, and it would therefore be postponed until tomorrow.
§ MR. HENLEYAt what time will the Report be taken?
SIR FRANCIS BARINGIn consequence of what has fallen from the hon. Gentleman the Secretary to the Treasury, I beg leave to give notice that upon the Motion for going into Committee upon the Civil Service Estimates I propose to call the attention of the House to the expenditure in connection with the Parks, without a Vote of Parliament.