HC Deb 27 February 1893 vol 9 cc434-6
MR. BARTLEY

I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what manner, if at all, the expenses of the Commission on Irish Evicted Tenants will be brought forward for the consideration of the House?

SIR J. T. HIBBERT

There is no Constitutional necessity for obtaining the special sanction of Parliament to expenditure upon a particular Commission chargeable to the Vote for Temporary Commissions, Sub-head S, "Commissions not specifically provided for." All such expenditure is duly set out in the Appropriation Account under the heads of the several Commissions or Committees. As a typical instance, it may be mentioned that in 1888–89 the expenses of the Special Commission, 1888, to the amount of £1,958, were treated in this manner; and as no Supplementary Estimate was then required on the Vote as a whole, Parliament had no opportunity of discussing this very important and controversial Commission on the Estimates for the year in which it originated.

MR. BARTLEY

Then I will ask whether the expenditure under the Parnell Commission was not incurred under a special Act of Parliament; and whether I am to understand that Her Majesty's Government do not intend to allow Parliament to have any voice in the consideration of the expenses of this Special Commission?

SIR J. T. HIBBERT

In reply to the first question, I may say that, though the appointment of the Parnell Commission was authorised by Act of Parliament, yet the expenses were equally obliged to be voted in this House. I do not know that the Government has considered the question, or can give any opinion upon it. It will be for the Chairman of Committees, when the Supplementary Votes come before the House, to decide whether any discussion can be taken on the matter or not.

SIR J. GORST

I will ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, when the Vote is brought on, the Government will take any objection to the cost of the Commission being discussed?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. E. GLADSTONE,) Edinburgh,Midlothian

The right hon. Gentleman has not given me any notice of that question, and I have not had it under my consideration in any way. I must ask him for time.

SIR J. GORST

I will put a question down for to-morrow.

MR. W. E. GLADSTONE

(later on) said: So far as the Government are concerned, they will take no objection to the discussion of the cost of the Commissiou on the Estimates.