HC Deb 29 April 1909 vol 4 c498

I have outlined what I deem to be some of our more pressing requirements in the near future. I have now to consider in what way my proposals will affect the balance sheet of the current year. For this purpose I shall leave out of account for the moment the expenditure upon motor roads since it will, as I have indicated, be covered by and limited to the produce of certain special sources of revenue. Liabilities in respect of schemes of insurance against unemployment and other contingencies affecting the working classes will not mature within the current year, but for labour exchanges £100,000 will be required mainly for the provision of buildings. Under the head of development £200,000 will, as I have explained, be set aside for the first year's grant to the proposed fund. These two items together give a total of £300,000, to which must be added a sum of £50,000 for a purpose which will shortly become apparent, making a total addition of £350,000 to the estimated expenditure. If this is added to the estimated deficit of £15,762,000 on the basis of present taxation, and of the Estimates already presented to Parliament, the amount which must be found, either by further taxation or other means, is increased to £16,112,000, or (allowing a margin for contingencies) to, say, 16½ millions.