HC Deb 01 August 1904 vol 139 cc282-3
MR. GIBSON BOWLES

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, can he state whether any decision has been arrived at by His Majesty's Government with reference to the recommendation of the Committee on National Expenditure, that an Estimates Committee should be appointed at the commencement of each session for examination and report on one class of Estimates annually.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

No, sir, no final decision has been arrived at. I gave my hon. friend the views of the Government some time ago in answer to a Question—views that had been come to after consultation with the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition, though, of course, the right hon. Gentleman is in no sense responsible for anything I said. I have nothing to add to that Answer.

MR. WINSTON CHURCHILL (Oldham)

Is there any chance that the First Lord of the Treasury will find a day before the end of the session for the discussion of the Report on National Expenditure.

SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN (Stirling Burghs)

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will allow me to point out, as I have been referred to as recalcitrant, that at the time I was far from being recalcitrant, and rather urged upon the right hon. Gentleman that a day ought to be given for the discussion.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I think it would be an interesting and profitable employment of Parliamentary time to discuss both the Report on National Expenditure and the Reports of the Public Accounts Committee; but I am sure the Leader of the Opposition will agree with me that neither he nor I greatly desire to stay for that discussion.