§ MR. KELLYI beg to ask the Postmaster General whether the actual expenditure in the Post Office Savings Bank exceeded the Estimate in each of the years 1887–8, 1888–9, and 1889–90; whether he will state the amounts of the Estimates, of the total Votes, and of the actual expenditure for overtime in the Post Office Savings Bank in each of these three years; and whether the actual expenditure for overtime for the current financial year up to 14th March exceeds the Estimate for the year 1890–91; and, if so, by what amount?
§ *MR. RAIKESI give the figures asked for by the hon. Member as they appear in the printed Estimates and Appropriation Accounts. The actual expenditure in the Post Office Savings Bank for all purposes in 1887–8 was less than the amount estimated 1658 by £7,089, and was greater by £8,085 and £9,356 in the years 1888–9 and 1889–90 respectively. The amounts given in the Estimates, which were also the amounts voted, as the cost of extra duty of the clerical force in the same years were £8,500, £8,500, and £13,000 respectively, and the amounts expended in these years were £11,585, £13,643, and £15,796. The whole amount payable in 1890–91 is £16,282, which exceeds the Estimate by £3,282.