HC Deb 31 July 1907 vol 179 cc1132-6

Resolutions reported: —

1. Whereas it appears by the Navy Appropriation Account for the year ending the 31st day of March, 1906, and the statement appended thereto, that the aggregate expenditure on Navy Services has not exceeded the aggregate sums appropriated for those Services, but that, as shown in the schedule hereto appended, the total differences between the Exchequer Grants for Navy Services and the net expenditure are as follows viz.: —

£ s. d.
Total Surpluses 455,264 18 4
Total Deficits 217,505 19 2
Net Surplus £237,758 19 2

And whereas it is expedient that the application of so much of the said total surpluses on certain Grants for Navy Services as is necessary to cover the said total deficits on other Grants for Navy Services be sanctioned.

1. "That the application of such sums be sanctioned.''

SCHEDULE.
Number of Vote. Navy Services, 1905–6. Votes. Differences between Exchequer Grants and Net Expenditure
Surpluses. Deficits.
£ s. d. £ s. d.
1 Wages, etc., of Officers, Seamen, and Boys, Coast Guard, and Royal Marines — 163,909 1 8
2 Victualling and Clothing for the Navy 18,072 14 10 —
3 Medical Establishments and Services 12,042 10 4 —
4 Martial Law 720 19 6 —
5 Educational Services 10,824 8 0 —
6 Scientific Services — 3,782 10 4
7 Royal Naval. Reserves 35,539 13 0 —
8 Shipbuilding, Repairs, Maintenance, &c.:
I. Personnel 63,015 9 2 —
II. Matériel 11,824 16 1 —
III. Contract Work- 46,417 6 4 —.
9 Naval Armaments 127,868 17 7 —
10 Works, Buildings, and Repairs, at Home and Abroad 106,664 13 1 —
11 Miscellaneous Effective Services 17,471 4 2 —
12 Admiralty Office — 5,800 14 1
13 Half Pay, Reserved and Retired Pay — 31,897 17 8
14 Naval and Marine Pensions, Gratuities, and Compassionate Allowances 4,802 6 3 —
15 Civil Pensions and Gratuities — 9,550 10 4
— Amount written off as irrecoverable — 2,565 5 1
Total 455,264 18 4 217,505 19 2
Net Surplus £237,758 19 2
MR. VICTOR CAVENDISH (Derbyshire, W.)

said he ventured respectfully to protest against this very important Resolution being taken at this hour in the morning. He thanked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for having taken what hә believed was a perfectly constitutional step in asking the Public Accounts Committee to consider in a new and revised form, not only the Appropriation Account but also the form in which the Account was placed before the House. But at that hour it was impossible that the House could discuss the matter properly. He hoped next year the Government would arrange matters in a way which would afford opportunity for criticising the Resolution. He did not know what arrangements had been come to, but perhaps this Resolution could be taken tomorrow.

MR. GEORGE WHITELEY (Yorkshire, W. R., Pudsey)

said the resolution was taken by agreement with the right hon. Gentleman the Member for West Somerset, and he saw no need to depart from that agreement.

MR. RUNCIMAN (Dewsbury)

said the right hon. Gentlemen himself was responsible for exactly the same procedure when Secretary to the Treasury in 1905. He found, by reference to Hansard, that the Resolution was taken after midnight on that occasion.

MR. LEIF JONES (Westmoreland, Appleby)

pressed on the Government that a day and not a night should be given to the Public Accounts Committee Report.

II. Whereas it appears by the Army Appropriation Account for the year ending 31st March, 1906, and the statement appended thereto, that the aggregate expenditure on Army Services has not exceeded the aggregate sums appropriated for those services, but that, as shown in the Schedule hereto appended, the total differences between the Exchequer Grants for Army Services and the net expenditure are as follows, viz: —

SCHEDULE.
Number of Vote. Army Services, 1905–6. Votes. Differences between Exchequer Grants and Net Expenditure.
Surpluses. Deficits.
£ s. d. £ s. d.
1 Pay, &c, of Army 256,166 18 10 —
2 Medical Establishment: Pay, &c. 25,504 11 11 —
3 Militia: Pay, Bounty, &c. 66,162 14 8 —
4 Imperial Yeomanry: Pay and Allowances 40,604 8 11 —
5 Volunteer Corps: Pay and Allowances — 613 19 1
6 Quarterings, Transport, and Remounts 187,279 4 7 —
7 Supplies and Clothing 415,222 14 10 —
8 Ordnance Department Establishments and General Stores 122,089 1 7 —
9 Armaments and Engineer Stores 100,865 18 11 —
10 Works and Buildings 155,563 4 9 —
11 Establishments for Military Education 7,038 12 2 —
12 Miscellaneous Effective Services 7,910 10 0 —
13 War Office and Army Accounts Department — 3,936 14 1
14 Non-effective Charges for Officers, &. 11,597 0 8 —
15 Non-effective Charges for Men, &. — 41,452 12 3
16 Civil Superannuation, Compensation, Compassionate Allowances, &Gratuities — 6,428 3 9
— Balances irrecoverable — 9,436 14 10
Total 1,396,005 1 10 61,868 4 0
Net Surplus £1,334,136 17 10

Whereupon Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the Order of the House of the 26th day

£ s. d.
Total Surpluses 1,396,005 1 10
Total Deficits 61,868 4 0
Net Surplus £1,334,136 17 10

And whereas it is expedient that the application of so much of the said total surpluses on certain Grants for Army Services as is necessary to cover the said total deficits on other Grants for Army Services- be sanctioned.

2. "That the application of such sums be sanctioned."

of July last, adjourned the House without Question put.

Adjourned at six minutes before Three o'clock, a.m.