Mr. BOTTOM LEYasked the Prime Minister whether, before setting up the Public Accounts Committee, be will consider the desirableness of enlarging the scope of its powers in order that its Members may have authority to visit from time to time the various Departments of the public service and obtain information as to the practicability of reducing the present cost of their administration?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not think it would be desirable to enlarge the functions of the Public Accounts Committee in the manner suggested, and there are obvious practical difficulties in carrying out the hon. Member's suggestion. The duties at present assigned to them appear to me to be as much as they can conveniently undertake, and the responsibility for the economical administration of the public service must in any case rest primarily with the Government, and ultimately with the Committee of Supply.