§ MR. LABOUCHEREasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether he can roughly state what portion of the sum set down in the Vote of Credit has been already spent, or is due for liabilities incurred?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)In reply to the hon. Gentleman, I have to say that, roughly speaking, about £7,250,000 have been spent or are due for liabilities incurred under the Vote of Credit. But, in addition to this, it is probable that the retention of the Force in Egypt and at Suakin necessary to give effect to the policy announced last night will require the expenditure of a further sum of about £750,000 over the amount provided in the Estimates. So, speaking in very general terms, I may say that we stand committed to an expenditure of £8,000,000 out of the sum set down in the Vote of Credit.
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHasked the Prime Minister whether any money would be asked from the House in connection with the railway along the Nile Valley, and also with the further prosecution of the Suakin-Berber Railway, and also whether the questions might be fairly raised in Committee on the Consolidated Fund Bill? He supposed the margin of expenditure of £2,500,000 alluded to by the Chancellor of the Exchequer comprised the sum estimated for these works?
MR. GLADSTONEI said last night, with regard to the raising of this question in Committee on the Consolidated Fund Bill, that it was part of a specific proposal which was entirely rejected by the right hon. Gentleman. The starting point must be taken from the circumstances as they now stand, and I do not know whether it is the desire of the House to make any postponement of the Committee on the Consolidated Fund Bill. I have no information on that subject, and, consequently, I am not able to give any opinion. Neither am I able to answer the first part of the Question of the right hon. Gentleman, which appears to me rather to rest with the Chancellor of the Exchequer; but my impression certainly is that in the £7,250,000 are included the whole cost 355 —I think I cannot be wrong in saying that—the whole cost which has been incurred, both by laying down and ordering a certain portion of the railway.
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONThe Chancellor of the Exchequer said that £750,000 would have to be spent in the Soudan. If £7,250,000 have already been spent, how much of that has been spent in the Soudan?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. Childers)I answered a specific Question, and I had to obtain from my Colleagues at the War Office and at the Admiralty the information. I cannot give the details unless Notice is given of the Question.
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONsaid, that it was an important question, and if it was as he supposed a fresh Vote of £750,000 would be required. He would remind the right hon. Gentleman that the Prime Minister had undertaken that no portion of the Vote of Credit beyond £4,500,000 would be expended on the Soudan. He had to ask if that £4,500,000 had been spent, and, if so, whether any of the £750,000 was for Soudan purposes?
§ The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. Childers)I have stated already that my hon. Friend the Member for Northamton put a specific Question, asking if I could give, roughly, the figures. I have given that estimate roughly, and if the noble Lord wants further details, he must give Notice of the Question, and address himself to the Ministers who have cognizance of those details, rather than to myself.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREasked whether the £7,250,000 included the raising of 38,000 men?
§ The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. Childers)It includes, I am told, everything expended or incurred up to the present time.