§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON (Dundee)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether money voted on Supply can be placed at the disposal of the Departments concerned before the grants are made good by a Consolidated Fund Act.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINResolutions in Supply authorise expenditure. The money technically called "ways and means" required for meeting the expenditure is granted by Consolidated Funds Act. Money so granted can be used to defray the expenditure authorised by any Vote in Supply in the same session for the same financial year. If at the time when a Vote is taken the whole of the money granted by a previous Consolidated Fund Act has not been issued, the balance of that money can be made available for the expenditure authorised by the Vote, and it is not, therefore, necessary to wait for the passing of a further Act.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThen am I to understand that money voted in Supply since the last Consolidated Fund Act will not be available to the Departments until another Consolidated Fund Act has been passed?
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe hon. Gentleman had better wait and see my Answer in print and then he may be able to understand it. It is rather difficult to explain these matters across the floor of the House.