§ VISCOUNT LEWISHAM (Lewisham)asked the Secretary of State for War, Why the increase to the Ordnance Store Department of three Assistant Commissaries General, authorised under Item D, Vote 9, Army Estimates 1885–6, has not been carried out; and, whether, as the addition of nine Deputy Assistant Commissaries General, authorised at the same time, has already been carried into effect, he will cause the appointments to the higher ranks to be gazetted forthwith?
THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN)&c.) (Stirling,I must remind the noble Viscount that an Estimate is not in itself an authority for additional expenditure. Although when the Estimates for 1885–6 were framed it was anticipated that three more Assistant Commissaries General of Ordnance would be required, it was found, later in the year, that such an addition to the rank was not necessary.