MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the additional first-class clerk, specially authorised by the Treasury in 1889, to be employed on the establishment of the Exchequer and Audit Department in order to make a test examination of the Expense Accounts of the Navy and the manufacturing Accounts of the Army, is now employed on the work for which the appointment was authorised, or on other work unconnected with the Navy and Army; and, 1391 if so, whether the alteration in the arrangements has been approved of by the Treasury?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Sir J. T. HIBBERT, Oldham)The test examination of the expense accounts of the Navy and the manufacturing accounts of the Army is a continuing work added to the duties of the Exchequer and Audit Department. The Treasury having sanctioned the addition of a first-class clerk to the establishment of the Department to meet the additional work, the Comptroller and the Auditor General has under Statute absolute discretion in distributing the work as he pleases, and the Treasury has no authority to interfere in the matter.