§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT (Monmouthshire, W.)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will lay on the Table an amended financial statement of revenue and expenditure, actual and estimated, for the year 1899–1900 and 1900–01 in the place of the provisional figures in paper No. 8 presented on 5th March, so that the particulars may be in the hands of Members before the Third Reading of the Finance Bill; and whether in such statement will be indicated the estimated excess of receipts from the anticipation of the revenue in the year just concluded, and the diminished estimate of revenue consequent thereupon in the present financial year; and whether the war expenditure will be distinguished from the normal peace expenditure.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir M. HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W.I promised to place before Parliament as soon as possible after 31st March the actual figures of the revenue and expenditure of the year 1899–1900, in substitution for the provisional figures in the Paper presented on 5th March. This will be done to-morrow, if possible, and the expenditure due to the war will be distinguished from the ordinary peace expenditure. Hon. Members will be able to judge, by comparing the actual receipts from Customs and Excise with the amount at which these receipts were estimated on 5th March, how much the revenue of 1900–01 has been anticipated. In moving the Third Reading of the Finance Bill, I will give to the House the details of the receipts which are usually given in a Budget speech, and explain in each case how my estimates of revenue for 1900–01 have been affected by this anticipation. I will also explain any variation in the estimates of expenditure.
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTWhat I ask for is not merely the actual figures 1065 for the year just concluded, but the estimated revenue and expenditure for the current year. I want the statement to be exactly on the lines of the provisional statement, but that it shall apply to the present condition of things.
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACHThe statement will be identical with that placed in the hands of hon. Members before every Budget is introduced. As to the figures for the coming year, I cannot give them before Friday, for the simple reason that the financial year has only just ended, and there has been no time to calculate what effect the anticipations will have on the revenue of this year in connection with the new taxation. I will, however, give the House all the information I can on Friday.