§ MR. G. C. T. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury (1) whether he will grant, as an unopposed Return, the Return on the Paper on the subject of Supplementary Estimates; and (2) whether, if the Sessional Order No. 311A be renewed next year, either as a Sessional or Standing Order, he will consider the desirability of excluding from its scope Supplementary Estimates involving altogether new branches of expenditure, so that this House may retain its right to discuss and consider, as well as to vote on, all such new branches of expenditure, though proposed at the end of a Session, and which, if provided for by Supplementary Estimates introduced shortly before the time limit in Supply is reached, may avoid all criticism by this House?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.I believe there is no objection to the Return my hon. Friend asks for in the first paragraph of the Question. As regards the matter dealt with in the second paragraph, I quite agree that the system of Supplementary Estimates at the end of the Session and any other Estimates might under certain circumstances be open to abuse, and I think 411 the matter deserving of consideration. I cannot promise more at the present time.