§ Mr. NEWMANasked the Prime Minister whether the Treasury Return annually presented, and dividing public expenditure into four classes, Imperial, English, Scottish, and Irish services, is a Return authorised by or in accordance with any Act passed by this House; whether he is aware that such classification is directly opposed to the theory of finance as established by the Act of Union and the Act for consolidating the Exchequers; and whether he proposes to discontinue to issue such unauthorised classification and revert to the form of Return of revenue and expenditure customary up till the year 1888?
§ Mr. PIRIEBefore the Prime Minister answers the question on the Paper, may I ask whether he will consider the desirability of continuing this Return in view of the fact that it is the only means of proving the financial injustice which we in Scotland suffer under the Imperial Exchequer?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)The Return in question, which dates from 1891, has, since 1893, been presented annually, in accordance with the Order of the House of Commons. An explanation of its origin will be found in House of Commons Papers 329 of 1891 and 93 of 1893. I do not propose to refuse to grant the Return, if moved for in the usual manner.