§ MR. PAUL (Northampton)To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered the evidence taken and the Report made by the Select Committee on National Expenditure, appointed in 1902; and whether he proposes to continue the policy of his predecessor by withholding from the Controller and Auditor-General such items of expenditure as the Government do not think it desirable that he should see.
(Answered by Mr. Asquith.) I have considered the Report of the National Expenditure Committee. As regards action upon the Committee's recommendations, I would refer my hon. friend to the answer given by the First Lord of the Treasury to the hon. Member for Clackmannan on the 1st instant.‡ It is not the intention, nor would it be in the power, of His Majesty's Government to withhold details of expenditure from the Comptroller and Auditor General. Under The Exchequer and Audit Department Act, 1866, that officer is required to certify and to Report upon all accounts of issues from the Consolidated Fund or of expenditure out of voted moneys. Section 28 of the Act gives him the right of access to the books and other documents relating to the accounts of all accounting departments. As regards other forms of expenditure, the Treasury have the power, but are under no duty, to submit the details of the accounts in fit cases for audit by the Comptroller and Auditor-General. This is a power which is frequently exercised. But in the case of
‡see (4) Debates, clii., 1299.1397 grants in aid to responsible bodies, especially bodies whose income is derived from various sources, such, e.g., as University Colleges or the Incorporated Law Society, it is often impracticable to adopt this course.