§ MR. BELLAIRSTo ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether such comparison o British expenditure as have recently been made by the Secretary of State for War and the Secretary to the Admiralty with the naval and military budgets of France, Germany, and the United States, are on a fair basis having regard to the different systems of preparing financial accounts; and whether if there are any limiting considerations, he will cause inqu ries to be made and a Return to he issued as to their nature.
(Answered by Sir H. Campbell Bannerman.) Comparisons of British expenditure with the military budgets of France, Germany, and the United States can be very general only, and any comparisons that have been made have been of this nature. For many reasons more detailed comparison is impracticable, and, owing to the entirely different conditions between our own and Continental Armies, the preparation of a Return, such as my hon. friend suggests, would entail a great expenditure of labour and would serve no good purpose.