§ SIR SAMUEL SCOTT (Marylebone, W.)I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether he will state how many Royal Commissions have been appointed since the present Government came into office; what has been the expenditure to date; and what amount is estimated to cover the future expenditure on these Commissions.
§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Sir H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN, Stirling Burghs)The number of Royal Commissions appointed by this Government is eleven. The expenditure defrayed for them out of the Temporary Commissions Vote to 31st October is £3,287 13s. 7d. This does not include the cost of stationery, printing and office accommodation, which are borne by the Votes of other Departments. No Estimate can at present be made of the future cost of these Commissions, but an estimate of the sums required for them in 1907–1908 will be submitted in due course.