HC Deb 28 March 1860 vol 157 cc1468-9

Order for Committee read.

MR. SIDNEY HERBERT moved that the House go into Committee of Supply, in order to take certain Votes for the army on account, as the financial year ended on Saturday.

COLONEL LINDSAY

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman would undertake to lay the amended Army Estimates on the table before the recess, so that hon. Members might have them in their hands before they met again?

MR. SIDNEY HERBERT

said he would do so, if possible. At all events he would not take the Army Estimates after Easter until ample time had been given to consider them in their amended shape.

House in Committee.

Mr. MASSEY in the Chair.

(1.) £1,500,000 on account, Pay and Allowances, Land Forces.

SIR HENRY WILLOUGHBY

asked whether any considerable increase in the amount of the Army Estimates was contemplated?

MR. SIDNEY HERBERT

said, the reprinted Estimates would show.

LORD CLAUD HAMILTON

asked whether those amended Estimates would include the decision of the Government with regard to fortifications?

MR. SIDNEY HERBERT

said, no. It must be stated separately.

COLONEL KNOX

asked if the number of men would be exactly the same?

MR. SIDNEY HERBERT

said, substantially it would. There might be a small difference.

COLONEL HERBERT

asked if there would be any estimate for troops for India which have been some time in China?

MR. SIDNEY HERBERT

said, there would be a Vote of Credit without any Estimate.

Vote agreed to, as were also the following Votes:—

  1. (2.) £233,000, on account, Miscellaneous Charges.
  2. (3.) £1,000,000, on account, Embodied Militia.
  3. (4.) £34,000, on account, Volunteer Corps.
    4. 1469
  4. (5.) £65,000, on account, Departments of Secretary for War and Commander in Chief.
  5. (6.) £125,000, on account, Manufacturing Departments, &c.
  6. (7.) £315,000, on account, Wages of Artificers, &c.
  7. (8.) £114,000, on account, Clothing and Necessaries.
  8. (9.) £427,000, on account, Provisions, &c.
  9. (10.) £723,000, on account, Warlike Stores.
  10. (11.) £215,000, on account, Fortifications.

Upon a Vote of £69,000 for Civil Buildings,

SIR HENRY WILLOUGHBY

said, he assented to these Votes on account with the confident expectation that the right hon. Gentleman would exercise the power given him very sparingly, and that he would take care to leave open all questions for the Committee on a future occasion.

COLONEL KNOX

protested against the plan of taking Estimates on account. There was never any redress when they had parted with such large sums in that manner.

MR. BENTINCK

asked whether the fortifications at Alderney were included?

MR. SIDNEY HERBERT

said, that whatever works were under contract were included. He presumed that the House of Commons would not wish to stop works in progress under contracts already made.

MR. CHAIRMAN

said, the Vote before the Committee was for Civil Buildings.

MR. BENTINCK

said, that recent experience showed there was no difficulty in breaking contracts. He objected to the outlay of a single shilling more on the fortifications at Alderney. He wanted to know whether it was intended to go on spending money which many hon. Members believed would be utterly wasted. He was opposed to these works altogether, and intended to oppose every one of them.

MR. SIDNEY HERBERT

said, that in that case the Chairman had better report progress, and ask leave to sit again.

Resolutions to be reported To-morrow; Committee to sit again on Friday.

House resumed.