MR. AETHUR O'CONNOE (Donegal, E.)asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether the Government have come to any decision upon the Report of the Public Accounts Committee of the last Session, with regard to the sum of £10,000 appropriated from the Consolidated. Fund for Secret Service; and, whether they will consider the practicability of limiting the Secret Service money to annual amounts voted in Supply?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Lord RANDOLPH CHURCHILL) (Paddington, S.)Perhaps the House will allow me to answer this Question. I am quite aware that the hon. Member has taken a good deal of interest in this question, both in the House and on the Committee of Public Accounts, and I hope that the answer I shall give will prove satisfactory to him and the House 668 generally. Her Majesty's Government have carefully considered the question of Secret Service money, which is appropriated out of the Consolidated Fund by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury; and the Government have decided that it would be for the advantage of the Public Service if they introduced a Bill without delay to repeal the Act 22 Geo. III. c. 82, or part of that Act and part of 1 & 2 Vict. c. 2, under the provisions of which Acts £10,000 is appropriated from the Consolidated Fund as Secret Service money to be used by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury. That Bill will be introduced by the Secretary to the Treasury, and will take effect from the day it is passed. It will, however, be necessary for the Government to present an Estimate to the House providing for the expenditure of the Government in connection with Ministerial work performed in both Houses of Parliament. That Estimate will be small and moderate, providing for a small staff of messengers and clerks. The expenses I am now alluding to will be presented and voted in Parliament in the usual way, and will consist of items which have been defrayed hitherto out of funds at the disposal of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury. I hope that the House will consider the decision of the Government a reasonable one, having regard to the official Report, and that it constitutes a beneficial reform. I may be allowed to add that any credit in the matter will be due to my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Jackson), who, from the day he came into Office last June, took great interest in this question and has greatly contributed to the course taken by the Government in the matter, and, by measures which he induced the Treasury to adopt, anticipated the Minute of the Public Accounts Committee to which the hon. Member refers.