HC Deb 19 April 1904 vol 133 cc537-8
SIR EDGAR VINCENT (Exeter)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he has conferred with the Leader of the Opposition, and if he can now state what action he will take on the Report of the National Expenditure Committee; and what facilities he will afford for the discussion of the said Report.

THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.

I have had the opportunity of a short conversation with the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition, and I think I am not misrepresenting his views when I say that he and I were agreed in having some doubts as to the efficacy or practicability of the scheme advocated by the majority of the National Expenditure Committee. But we were also agreed that it represented a serious and honest attempt to deal with a very important question, and we thought it would be desirable, if possible, that some debate should take place in the House on the subject. At the same time I have to say for myself—and this is a question in which the right hon. Gentleman opposite, fortunately for himself, has no responsibility—that I do not at this moment see when that opportunity is to be provided.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)

Has the right hon. Gentleman come to any decision as to giving a day for the Public Accounts Committee Report?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I think my hon. friend will remember that I suggested to the House that if there was a general desire that the Report of the Public Accounts Committee should be discussed—a question on which I do not pronounce any opinion—the best plan would be to diminish the number of days in Supply, making twenty-two instead of twenty-three, on the understanding that the twenty-third day should be given to the discussion my hon. friend desires.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

Does the right hon. Gentleman propose to take any measures to ascertain if there is such a feeling as to justify him in taking that course.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

It is rather early to do that. We have not yet reached the twenty allotted days, and, until that period approaches, how we are to dispose of the additional three days which may be allotted seems almost premature.