§ MR. SHAW LEFEVRE (Bradford, Central)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will lay upon the Table of the House, before his Budget Statement, a Return similar to that of last year, showing the estimated expenditure for the year 1892–3 on the Army and Navy, and the provision made for it; also a Return similar to No. 412 of last year, showing the ordinary and extraordinary expenditure for the year 1891–2, and the provision made for it?
§ MR. GOSCHENBoth Returns would anticipate in an unusual manner the Financial Statement of the year. There, is, I think, no precedent for stating how the Chancellor of the Exchequer proposes to provide for the expenditure of the coming year, nor for giving the amount of the expenditure of the expiring year before the Budget; but both Returns shall be prepared and ready for issue simultaneously, if possible, with my statement.