HC Deb 20 July 1899 vol 74 cc1378-9
MR. GIBSON BOWLES

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he proposes to comply with Section 679 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, and with Section 1 (c) of the Merchant Shipping Mercantile Marine Fund Act of 1898, by laying before both Houses of Parliament, as soon after the meeting of Parliament in every year as may be, the accounts of the recently-created General Lighthouse Fund, which came into existence on 1st April of the present year; if so, in what form, and at what period of each year, does he propose to lay these accounts before this House; whether any estimate of the receipts and expenditure of the new General Lighthouse Fund for the year 1899–1900 will be laid before this House; if not, whether he can state approximately what the total receipts and expenditure of this fund are estimated to be for the year 1899–1900; and, whether any, and, if so, what opportunity will be afforded to this House of exercising any direct control over the application or administration of this fund.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. RITCHIE,) Croydon

Accounts of the General Lighthouse Fund will be audited and laid before both Houses of Parliament in accordance with the Acts referred to by the hon. Member. They will be presented in a similar form to that used for the statement of the Mercantile Marine Fund Accounts, which of recent years have been included in the Appropriation Accounts. They will be presented as soon as may be after the accounts are closed, which cannot be till November in each year. No estimate of receipts and expenditure of the fund will be laid before the House, and it is impossible at present to state with any degree of accuracy what the receipts and expenditure of this fund will be for the year 1899–1900. There is no legislative provision for the control by Parliament of this fund, which, as the hon. Member is aware, does not contain any money provided by Parliament. But I shall always be glad to supply any information on the subject which the House or any hon. Member may desire.