MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)To ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will consider the advisability of recommending the appointment of a small Royal Commission to consider the present system of the Accounts of National Expenditure, and the desirability of making changes therein.
(Answered by Mr. A. J. Balfour.) It seems to me on consideration that the best course would be for the Public Accounts Committee, who are appointed by Parliament to deal with public-accounts, to suggest changes in our existing system. Any such recommendation would have the most respectful consideration of His Majesty's Government, and could probably be dealt with without any further consideration by a specially appointed Commission. It may be worth noting that the principal change in our system of keeping public accounts during the last twenty years was made on the initiative of the Public Accounts Committee.