§ MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the total revenue of the year 1405 ending the 31st March, returned at £119,839,905, includes all the receipts of the last week of the year, or whether several items have been taken at the same amount as shown for the weeks up to and ending the 24th March; and whether the total revenue included for the week ending 31st March was only £1,626,000 against £4,124,000 in the week ending 24th March; and, if so, how he accounts for this difference.
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACHThe total of £119,839,905 includes all the receipts of the last week of the financial year just closed. Two consecutive weeks are not in the least comparable with one another. The receipts of the week ended 24th March included a payment into the Exchequer by the Post Office of 1¼ million, while in the following week there was no payment on that account. The receipts for the week ended 31st March, 1900, are more than the receipts of the corresponding week of the previous year, which were £1,217,000.
§ MR. LOUGHWas there any payment whatever made through the Post Office or Telegraph service in the last week? Is it not true the last week is generally the largest week for payments?
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACHNo, Sir; it is not true.