§ MR. BOWLES (Lambeth, Norwood)To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state for each of the financial years 1905–1906, 1906–1907, 1907–1908, and 1908–1909 (as estimated) the total annual expenditure of each of the following Departments, namely: War Office (including ordnance factories), Admiralty, Civil Services, Revenue Departments, under each of the following headings for each Department, namely: expenditure from net Votes voted in Supply; expenditure from receipts appropriated in aid; expenditure out of issues to meet capital expenditure under various Acts; expenditure incurred on account of this Department by other Departments; together with the totals of these four headings for each of the four Departments, and a deduction from the total of each Department of the expenditure incurred by that Department on account of other Departments.
(Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) I do not think such a Return would possess such value as would justify the cost of preparing and publishing it. At present the Treasury is engaged in compiling the similar, but more elaborate, Return moved for on 25th June by the hon. Member for Preston. To furnish also the Return suggested in the Question would involve needless duplication of work and expense.