§ MR. RUNCIMAN (Dewsbury)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much he expects the total Debt to be reduced in the year 1904–5, excluding the operation of the Works Acts and similar Acts; and how much he expects that the operation of these works and similar Acts will add to our total liabilities during the year 1904–5.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe amount by which the total dead-weight debt is expected to be reduced in the year 1901–5 is, as stated by me last week, £7,120,000. I am unable at present to add anything to the statement I made on Tuesday last as to the liability which we are likely to incur in the current year in respect of the expenditure charged to capital account.