§ MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick)To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state how much money did the Treasury save out of the Irish Votes that were not expended since 1903; whether he can state the amounts saved on the different Votes, and to what purpose the money so saved has been applied.
§ (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) The sums surrendered on the annual Votes of Parliament are shown each year in the Appropriation Accounts. The inquiry as to the application of moneys so saved appears to be based on a misapprehension. A saving on a Vote of Parliament does not necessarily mean that any money is made available for expenditure on other purposes; it only means that the expenditure out of that particular Vote has been less than it was estimated to be. In so far as, owing to savings on the Votes generally and to other causes, the Exchequer Revenue exceeds the Exchequer Issues for the year, the balance is applied under statute to the reduction of Debt as Old Sinking Fund.