§ SIR BRAMPTON GURDON (Norfolk, N.)To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, having regard to the fact that in several Civil Service Votes a Vote on Account has been taken for almost the entire sum required for the service of the year, whereby the Vote in question has been practically removed 1126 from the control of the House, he will give some explanation of the reasons for which it was necessary to obtain such large grants in the case of the Votes for Osborne; Secretary for Scotland; Dublin Metropolitan Police; Merchant Seamen's Fund Pensions; Miscellaneous Charitable and other Allowances; Hospitals and Charities, Ireland; Miscellaneous Expenses; St. Louis Exhibition; and Ireland Development Grant.
(Answered by Mr. Victor Cavendish.) Osborne. The progress of expenditure is uncertain, and a round sum is taken. Secretary for Scotland. The statutory Grant in Aid (£20,000) to the Congested Districts Board is paid in April. Dublin Metropolitan Police. The Dublin Police Tax, which is the chief item of the Appropriations-in-Aid, is not received within the period of the Vote on Account. Merchant Seamen's Fund Pensions. Taken in round thousands. Two quarters have to be provided for. Miscellaneous Charitable and other Allowances. Round thousand. The bulk of the payments fall early in the year. Hospitals and Charities, Ireland. The grants to hospitals are paid early in the year. Miscellaneous Expenses. Some large payments have to be made early in the year, others at uncertain dates. St. Louis Exhibition. The Exhibition takes place this summer. Ireland Development Grant. The grant is applicable in the first instance to statutory purposes under the Irish Land Act, 1903.