HC Deb 16 June 1876 vol 229 cc2022-3

£364,200, to complete the sum for Army Purchase Commission.

GENERAL SIR GEORGE BALFOUR

said, that a more irregular Vote had never been presented. It was of that bad kind of Votes which carefully concealed the information by which you could verify the actual expenditure with the estimated outlay; and consequently no one knew whether the mode in which the money was spent was right or not. He hoped the Secretary of State for War would give a distinct account of the manner in which the money had been spent in the past, and state clearly the names, ranks, and corps and regiments of the various officers who received the money voted by Parliament as well as the sums paid to each.

MR. DILLWYN

also asked how the money was to be expended. There was no information in the Estimates.

MR. GATHORNE HARDY

remarked, that the Estimate was laid on the Table of the House three months ago. The money had been voted, and there would be no difficulty whatever in stating to the House what commissions had been purchased.

GENERAL SIR GEORGE BALFOUR

said, no information had been given respecting the particular commissions which had been bought. It was only right to those who advocated the abolition of purchase to have the information given in a clear way, so that they might be able to judge whether the recommendations they offered, and which the House followed in abolishing Purchase, were right. Already millions had been spent, and many more millions had yet to be spent, but no other accounts had been given except lump sums. But as the Treasury was charged with the duty of issuing instructions as to the accounts to be rendered, he hoped that the controlling Department would not fail to require the Commissioners of Purchase to submit to the Comptroller and Auditor General a detailed account of every item, and that that account, when audited with the vouchers, would be laid before Parliament, to enable Members and the country to form right views about the outlay of £10,000,000 or £12,000,000 for buying back the Army from the officers.

Mr. STANLEY

said, a Return giving the information required by the hon. Gentleman would be laid on the Table by his right hon. Friend.

Vote agreed to.

House resumed.

Resolution to be reported upon Monday next;

Committee to sit again upon Monday next.