HC Deb 03 March 1902 vol 104 c295

£155 2s. 5d., Civil Services Excesses.

(10.55.) MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)

said he should like to know something about this Vote.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN, Worcestershire, E.)

said there was a small excess of £145 for Peterhead Harbour, due mainly to the payment of compensation to a workman who was injured. The excess of £3,465 for "Prisons, England and the Colonies" was due almost entirely to the higher price of coal. They were, therefore, asking the House to give them a total Vote of £10 in respect of that.

MR. LABOUCHERE

said he did not understand why they should he asked to vote £10 and not the whole amount.

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

said it was quite unnecessary to do so. They were following the usual practice in putting the Vote in this form.

MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)

said he understood this was a small balance of arrears, but they did not know how much. He thought the Committee were entitled to know what proportion of the total amount the excess was.

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

The hon. Member will find it on the face of the Vote.

MR. BLAKE (Longford, S.)

objected to the Vote being stated in this form. A small sum would be unpaid in order that Parliament might have an opportunity of discussing it. Sometimes the Committee was unable fully to examine the Votes, but in this case the Committee did fully examine it, and were able to report that the expenditure was justifiable.

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