MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, can he now state whether any decision has been arrived at for giving the House an opportunity to discuss the advisability of giving effect to the recommendations of the Committee on National Expenditure by nominating an Estimates Committee for examination of and report on one class of the Estimates, and by appointing one day in the session for the consideration of the Public Accounts Committee Report and recommendations; and can he state the result of any consultation as to the form of the Motion on which such a discussion will take place, or give the terms of the Motion proposed.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am sorry to say I have not yet been able to consult with the Leader of the Opposition on the 325 question of having a special Committee for inspection of the Estimates. If the House desires to discuss the Report of the Public Accounts Committee the best plan would be that, instead of three additional days for Supply, there should be two only, leaving the third for the proposed discussion. I am not in a position to say whether this would be agreeable to the House at large.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESOf course the right hon. Gentleman is aware we could not discuss the Report of the Public Accounts Committee in Supply?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThat is so, and that is why I have suggested that we should take a day for it and only have twenty-two instead of twenty-three days allotted to Supply.