§
Resolution reported—
That towards making good the Supply granted to Her Majesty, for the Service of the year ending the 31st day of March, 1862, the sum of £973,747 be granted out of the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
§ SIR HENRY WILLOUGHBYsaid, that as the House was about to sanction an additional expenditure of £973,000, caused by the expedition to Canada, he thought it right to call the attention of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the fact that nearly the whole of the probable surplus spoken of by the right hon. Gentleman in his last financial statement had been appropriated by the supplementary estimates which were introduced last Session. He wished to ask, Whether it was the right hon. Gentle- 498 man's intention to make any statement to the House showing how matters really stood as to the last financial year?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERThe hon. Baronet is right in supposing that the supplementary Estimates introduced last year absorbed nearly the whole of the probable surplus which was calculated upon when the regular financial statement was submitted to the House. He is also correct in saying that since that time, dining the present Session and in connection with the American question, an expenditure of between £900,000 and £1,000,000 has been submitted in the shape of supplementary Estimates. We have now arrived at the 20th of February, which is within less than six weeks of the close of the financial year, and I hope to be able to submit the usual financial statement of the coming year to the House before Easter. Under these circumstances I shall best consult the convenience of the House if I bring into one view the entire revenue and expenditure of the country. I do not therefore propose to make, on the part of the Government, any financial statement before the close of the present financial year.
§ Resolution agreed to.
§ Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. MASSEY, Mr. CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, and Mr. PEEL.