§ Order for Committee read.
§ House in Committee.
§ Motion, "That a Supply be granted to Her Majesty."
§ Queen's Speech referred.
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONmoved that Mr. Massey do take the Chair.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ Queen's Speech read.
§ On Question "That a Supply be granted to Her Majesty,"
§ SIR HENRY WILLOUGHBYsaid, he wished to ask the noble Lord (Viscount Palmerston) whether, before the House went into Committee of Supply, any general financial statement would be made as to the income and expenditure of the country. For a year and six months there had been no such statement; during the last four months expenditure had been going on without any general statement; and probably no House of Commons knew less about the expenditure than the present. It was very desirable that an outline at 508 least of the financial position of the country at the present moment should be made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer before the House went into Committee of Supply.
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONPerhaps the hon. Baronet will have the goodness to repeat his question when my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, shall—as I hope he will very soon—take his seat in this House. He will be much better able to answer the question than I am.
§ Resolved—That a Supply be granted to Her Majesty;
§ Resolution to be reported to-morrow.
§ House resumed.
§ House adjourned at half-after Seven o'clock.