HC Deb 13 March 1894 vol 22 cc152-3
MR. GIBSON BOWLES

I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General, dated 10th January, 1894, wherein it is stated that, through the action of the Treasury under "The Public Accounts and Charges Act, 1891," the sum of £8,295,014, consisting of extra receipts, was treated as appropriations in aid, and was applied to the Public Service, without having been granted and appropriated thereto by "The Appropriation Act, 1892"; and whether he proposes, in the forthcoming Appropriation Act, to give any more formal and distinct Parliamentary sanction for the application of the appropriations in aid, as is suggested by the Auditor General; and, if not, whether he pro-poses to adopt any oilier method which will secure that so large a portion of the Public Revenue as is represented by the appropriations in aid, including the extra receipts, shall be granted and appropriated to the Public Service by Parliament instead of by Treasury Minute?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir W. HARCOURT,) Derby

This is a matter which will, in due course, come before the Public Accounts Committee. Pending the Report of that Committee, I cannot express any opinion on the point raised.