§ Considered in Committee.
§ [MR. WHITLEY in the Chair.]
§ Motion made, and Question proposed,
§ "That, towards making good the Supply granted to His Majesty for the service of the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1916, the sum of £269,888,662 be granted out of the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom."—[Mr. Montagu.]
§ Mr. KINGI think we ought to have some explanation of this. It is rather a big sum, and perhaps the Financial Secretary to the Treasury will explain it.
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Montagu)It is a purely formal matter. The House has already voted the sum, and we are to get it out of the Consolidated Fund in order to pay the Supply which the House has already voted.
§ Mr. KINGThat is quite true, but we have asked to-day, in the course of the Debate, a question to which, I think, some answer might be given, and to which no answer has yet been attempted, as to whether this money is to be raised by Treasury Bills, by extra taxation, or by a loan. I think we might have some indication of the intention of the Government on these lines.
§ Mr. McKENNAThat is a matter which my hon. Friend might reasonably leave to the discretion of the Government to inform the House, at the right moment, which is the precise method they propose to adopt. We must ultimately get the consent of the House. To state in advance what our 642 precise financial measures are going to be might, I am sure my hon. Friend will realise, be doing the State considerable harm and might confer considerable advantage on certain persons. It is undesirable that such a thing should occur.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Resolution to be reported To-morrow; Committee to sit again To-morrow.
§ The remaining Orders were read, and postponed.
§ Whereupon Mr. Deputy - Speaker WHITLEY, pursuant to the Order of the House of the 3rd February, proposed the Question, "That this House do now adjourn."
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Adjourned accordingly at One minute before Nine o'clock.