MR. WALKERI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, seeing that the funds available for the maintenance of the Crown Agents' Office are drawn in part from Protectorates which are largely financed by grants-in-aid from the Treasury, he will arrange that this House shall not again, until it has a practical and efficacious right of control, be asked to sanction expenditure which will go in part towards the maintenance of the Crown Agents' Office.
§ MR. CHURCHILLThe system under which the Crown Agents transact business provides for a complete audit of the accounts of grants-in-aid colonies by the Comptroller and Auditor-General as well as for the observance of all the checks by which the Secretary of State exercises control over the Crown Agents. If the House does not regard this control as practical and efficacious expression will no doubt be given to its opinion upon some convenient opportunity.
MR. WALKERCan the hon. Gentleman quote any other cases where grants of public money are made without the corresponding right of control?
§ [No Answer was returned.]