§ MR. HAROLD COXI beg to ask the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the estimated expenditure on the Civil Service and Revenue Departments is nearly £5,000,000 in excess of the actual expenditure in the year 1905–6; and whether he can afford the House any opportunity of a general discussion of the causes of this increase and of its effect upon the taxpayers of the country.
§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. ASQUITH,) Fife, E.An opportunity for such a discussion as that to which my hon. friend alludes arises every year on the Motion to go into Committee on the Civil Service Estimates.
§ MR. HAROLD COXIs the policy of reduced expenditure to which the Liberal Party pledged itself at the last general election still part of the programme of the Liberal Party?
§ MR. ASQUITHCertainly.