§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERmoved—
That the Committee on Public Accounts should consist of the following Members:—Mr. WALPOLE, Mr. EDWARD PLEYBELL BOCVERIE, Sir STAFFORD NORTHCOTE, Sir HENRY WILLOUHGBY, Mr. PEEL, Lord ROBERT MONTAGU, Mr. HOWES, Mr. GOSCHEN, and Mr. POLLARD-URQUHART.
SIR HENRY WILLOUHBYremarked that a very small portion of the public accounts was submitted to this Committee. The time was approaching when it would be necessary that there should be a more general audit, although he was afraid it would involve a complete revision of our financial system. What was wanted was a system and an examination which would give the House a clear account of the way in which the public money was expended. He had had the honour of serving on this Committee for some years, and he thought that the House should know that its powers and its usefulness were extremely limited.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERassured the hon. Baronet that the Government were as anxious as any Member of the House could be to see this Committee on Public Accounts, which was an institution well founded, he thought, on the principles of Parliamentary government, made as efficient as possible, and armed with every power which could tend to complete that efficiency. With regard to the imperfection or partial development of the principle of audit in this country, that was a matter under the consideration of the Government, and with respect to which they thought it probable that they would have an opportunity shortly of adopting measures, and even of making proposals to the House, entirely in the spirit of the remarks of the hon. Baronet. With regard to the limitation of the powers of the Committee, he could only say he was quite sure that any recommendation that Committee might make, tending to enlarge their own powers, and supported by reasons to show that at present their powers were not so large as they ought to be, would come before the Government and the House with great authority; for he was satisfied that those hon. Gentlemen who had received such a mark of the confidence of the House as was indicated by their appointment on this Committee would not be likely to make a recommendation of that sort except upon good grounds.
§ Motion agreed to.