CIVIL SERVICE ESTIMATES. (Hansard, 19 May 1865)

§ MR. AUGUSTUS SMITH

said, he desired to have some explanation from the Chancellor of the Exchequer or the First Commissioner of Works upon a matter connected with the Estimates which they were about to consider. They were told that an extra Estimate would shortly be introduced relative to the new Gallery to 594 be erected somewhere or other for certain collections in the British Museum. Last year the country had to pay upwards of £3,000 for designs for certain buildings that were projected at South Kensington, to which certain of these collections were to be removed, but which the House did not think fit to approve. It appeared that the Government were now having similar plans prepared; and he thought the House ought to have an opportunity of deciding whether it would sanction the transfer of these collections from the British Museum to Brompton. It was hardly respectful to the House that a statement should not be made upon the Civil Service Estimates, similar to that which was always made upon those for the army and navy. According to the short analysis of these Estimates, there appeared to be a saving of £13,000 this year, but the fact was that that apparent saving would be swallowed up by the Votes for public buildings, which it was understood were to come before the House. Nor, indeed, ought the comparison to be made with the Estimate of last year, but with the actual expenditure, in which case the apparent diminution upon the Estimates of this year would entirely disappear. The actual expenditure upon the Civil Service up to the 31st of March last was £7,257,000 while the Estimate for this year was £7,624,000; and if to this Estimate the sums allowed out of the Consolidated Fund were added, it would appear that for Civil Service purposes there was an increase of £2,000,000 over the expenditure for 1854. From a Return of the increase and diminution of the expense of the public offices it appeared that during the year 1864 there was an increase of £132,000 and a decrease of £52,000, showing a net increase of £80,000. He should like to have some explanation of these various matters.