§ LORD ROBERT MONTAGUsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Treasury the following Questions respecting the Account for Civil Contingencies:— Whether the Item "for Votes proposed to be taken for New Services" refers to money spent for objects for which the sanction of Parliament had not already been obtained; and whether the "Net Loss on the sale of a Chapel in Paris" of £2,000, is the difference between the purchase money which had been paid without the sanction of Parliament and the sum obtained by sale when that Vote had been disallowed; and if so, whether the sum of £2,000 thus disallowed should be charged on the Fund for Civil Contingencies?
MR. PEELsaid, in reply, that the first question of the noble Lord referred to the expenditure of the year 1860–1. The money had been advanced by the Treasury, and it was afterwards paid out of a Vote passed by that House in the course of the last Session. These were sums that were urgently required, and which it was necessary to pay before the expenditure had been sanctioned by Parliament. In answer to the second question of the noble Lord, he had to state that the money for the Chapel at Paris was paid out of the Civil Contingency Fund. When the Vote was refused by the House, it became necessary to sell the Chapel, and the proceeds of the sale were applied in payment of the advance made by the Government; but the sum so realized was less by £2,000 than the amount of that advance.