HC Deb 28 April 1914 vol 61 cc1661-2

Resolution reported, "That it is expedient to authorise the payment out of moneys provided by Parliament of contributions made by the Commissioners of Works in pursuance of any Act of the present Session, to enable the London County Council to acquire certain lands and execute certain improvements in the City of Westminster, and for other purposes in connection therewith."

Sir FREDERICK BANBURY

I beg to move, at the end of the Question, to add the words, "Such sum shall not exceed the sum of thirty-eight thousand pounds." I think I am right in saying that the sum which is to be voted by the Commissioner of Works is £35,000.

Mr. WEDGWOOD BENN (Lord Of the Treasury)

Thirty-eight thousand pounds.

Sir F. BANBURY

It may be right or it may be wrong, but we ought not to give an unlimited power to the Commissioner of Works. Therefore I propose to put in a limiting Amendment. I presume that the hon. Gentleman in charge of this Resolution will accept the Amendment. I do not myself agree with the proposal to spend £38,000 upon alterations to the approach to the Mall. I think it is an absurd expenditure and quite unnecessary. I do not want, however, at the moment to go into that question. I have not put in my Amendment any sum which is less than that which I believe the First Commissioner intends to spend. I am almost the first Member of this House who has ever succeeded in getting passed a limiting Amendment. I have succeeded in getting passed limiting Amendments to a good many of these Resolutions. One was in regard to the Government of Ireland Bill, and another was to some other Resolution which I forget at the present moment.

Mr. GOLDSMITH

I beg to second the Amendment. I should like to point out to the House the great difficulty we are in in dealing with Orders of this sort, because they are not placed on the Paper. I entirely agree with the hon. Baronet that the Commissioner of Works ought not to be given authority to spend unlimited sums, and that some limit should be put in the Resolution.

It being Eleven of the clock, the Debate stood adjourned; to be resumed tomorrow (Wednesday).