§ MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick)To ask the Secretary to the Treasury what is the estimated cost of the projected visit of the Assistant Comptroller and Auditor to the Colonial audit stations of the Mediterranean and of the East and South Coast of Africa; whether, having regard to the fact that provision for such estimated expenditure has been made by the curtailment of various programmes of local audit in the United Kingdom, it is within the competence of the heads of the Exchequer and Audit Department thus to arrange a Colonial inspection by an official to the detriment of the Imperial duties of experienced officers; whether the proposed visit has been undertaken at the instance of the Colonial Office, and, if so, why it was not planned without prejudice to Imperial audits; and whether, in view of the circumstance that during a similar tour by a late Comptroller and Auditor-General it was found desirable to visit the Holy Land and other places of non-financial interest, he can state what control is exercised by the Lords of the Treasury over official journeys of heads of departments to ensure that these shall not be extemporised to furnish opportunities of foreign travel at the public expense.
§ (Answered by Mr. Runciman.)The visit is undertaken in the public interest with the approval of the Treasury and the Colonial Office, and will not have the consequences suggested. I understand the facts as to a tour by a former Comptroller and Auditor-General are misrepresented in the Question.