§
Motion made, and Question proposed,
That the Statement laid before the House, showing the changes in the Arrangement of Votes made in the Estimates for 1890–91, be referred to the Committee of Public Accounts."—(Mr. Jackson.)
§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)Mr. Speaker ruled this evening that the functions of the Public Accounts Committee are strictly limited by the Standing Order; and as the Committee will require a special instruction, I 1613 would ask the hon. Gentleman to withdraw the present Motion, and put one on the Paper sufficient for the purpose.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. JACKSON, Leeds, N.)I have been in consultation this evening as to the form which will best carry out the intentions of the House expressed to-day. I have consulted with the right hon. Gentleman the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, and it is his view that the reference to the Committee must, of course, be limited by the functions of the Committee as defined by the Standing Order. I hope that explanation will satisfy hon. Gentlemen. I will endeavour as far as I can to give effect to the wish of the House as expressed to-day, and to act with the concurrence of the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee.
§ (12.31.) MR. A. O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)The hon. Gentleman has entirely missed the force of the objection urged by the Public Accounts Committee themselves, namely, that the Committee as at present constituted are not empowered to deal with such a subject as this, and that a special Resolution would be required to enable them to deal with it. Both the Public Accounts Committee and the Committee on Estimates Procedure, of which the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Goschen) was a member, have recommended that any change in the form of the Estimates should be submitted to the approval of the House, and not referred to the Public Accounts Committee. If this matter be referred to the Public Accounts Committee we shall not be able to deal with it except as far as it deals with matters of mere account.
§ (12.33.) MR. LANE (Cork Co., E.)I would ask the Secretary to the Treasury and the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the interests of public business to re-consider-their decision in this matter. If the account be referred to the Public Accounts Committee in its present shape we shall merely be compelled to send a second Report down to the House, such as we have sent this week already. Unless the reference be accompanied by a special instruction from the House, the result will be the wasting of a week of the public time and a day of the time of the Committee, which has enough 1614 work thrown on its hands every year already.
§ (12.35.) THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN, St. George's, Hanover Square)My hon. Friend (Mr. Jackson) was under the impression that he was acting according to the views of the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee in the course he has taken. We by no means wish to oppose the feeling of the Committee in the matter, and we will postpone the Motion for two or three days. In the meantime, we will consult the Chairman and Members of the Public Accounts Committee to see whether we can agree upon a reference.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Copy presented accordingly; to lie upon the Table.