§ MR. M'CRAE (Edinburgh, E)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he can state the amount incurred for war expenditure in South Africa for the period from 1st April to 31st December last; and whether he can state what further sum he estimates as being required to meet war expenditure in South Africa from 1st January to the end of the present financial year.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (SIR M. HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W.I am not quite sure what it is that the hon. Member desires to ascertain by his Question as to the amount incurred for war expenditure in South Africa. There may have been some liabilities incurred in South Africa not known to me, and I should not like to state figures as to the amount incurred. His second Question will be answered when my right hon. friend the Secretary for War brings forward a Supplementary Estimate. I could not state it now.
§ MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)Will the right hon. Gentleman give an estimate of the expenditure up to 31st December?
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACHNo. I think I explained why.
§ MR. M'CRAEWould the right hon. Gentleman inform the House of the amount paid out of the Treasury on account of war expenditure up to 31st December, and what he estimates will be the amount from 31st December to the end of the financial year?
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACHI can state what has been paid out of the Treasury up to 31st December. It is £46,300,000. As to the other, it can only be an estimate, and that cannot be prepared until my right hon. friend makes his statement.
§ MR. M'CRAEMay I ask whether, seeing that the estimated expenditure for the South African war for the current year was £58,000,000, the right hon. Gentleman will say when the House will have an opportunity—
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! The question on the Paper has been answered. The hon. Member is now going into other questions.
§ MR. M'CRAEI will give notice of that Question.