§ MR. HANBURY (Preston)asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether it is the fact that, in the case of pensions and other items entered in the Annual Finance Accounts and charged on the Consolidated Fund, no account is published showing whether or not any particular pension or other item has actually been paid from the Consolidated Fund; whether it is the fact that the unexpended balance is stated in one sum without specifying the items of such balance, making it difficult to ascertain whether any particular pension has or has not been paid; and, whether he proposes to alter the existing system, with a view to affording public proof that the moneys charged upon the Consolidated Fund for a particular object are actually expended upon that object?
§ THE SECRETARY (Mr. JACKSON) (Leeds, N.)It is true that the Finance Accounts, as published, do not show whether any particular pension or other item charged on the Consolidated Fund has actually been paid. The unexpended balance is stated in one sum in the Comptroller and Auditor General's Report on the abstract account of the Consolidated Fund. I think it would be desirable to give details of the items which make up the amount surrendered to the Exchequer in respect of over issues from the Consolidated Fund; and will see if it is possible to do this in the next issue of the Finance Accounts.