§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT (Derby)asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether there is any objection to publishing a statement, at the close of the financial year, showing the Exchequer issues for expenditure as well as the Revenue receipts, and also an account of any unexpended balances from the previous year which may have been available during the year in aid of the expenditure of the several Departments; and, whether there is any reason why the condition of the expenditure, which is regularly stated in the weekly account, should not equally be sot forth in the final account at the close of the financial year?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN) (St. George's, Hanover Square)The statement which was made public at the close of the financial year mainly consists of a comparative statement of the Revenue, and the weekly account published in The Gazette gives the total expenditure as well as receipts. It has always been the custom to withhold the last account of the year until the Chancellor of the Exchequer has made his Financial Statement. It has always been reserved to him to deal with the full facts. I propose, on this occasion, to follow the precedent of my Predecessors; but I will undertake to consider the question before I introduce my Budget of 1887–8, and decide whether I shall be able to act upon it.
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us when his Financial Statement will be made?
§ MR. GOSCHENYes, Sir; I have much pleasure in stating that it will be made as soon as possible after the second reading of the Criminal Law Amendment (Ireland) Bill.