§ SIR ROBERT HOBARTI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can hold out hopes of substantial reductions and economies being carried out in the administration of the Civil Services Estimates for 1906–7, on somewhat similar lines to those effected on the Army and Navy Estimates.
§ MR. MCKENNAThe Civil expenditure of the State applies to a large number of services which are independent of one another and governed by entirely different considerations. It is not possible therefore by any general determination of policy to affect the Civil expenditure as the Naval or Military expenditure may be affected. It is, however, the hope and intention of His Majesty's Government to secure that the Civil Services shall be conducted with the strictest regard to economy.