HC Deb 23 September 1915 vol 74 cc585-7

The Treasury may issue out of the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and apply towards making good the Supply granted to His Majesty for the service of the year ending on the thirty-first day of March, one thousand nine hundred and sixteen, the sum of two hundred and fifty million two hundred thousand pounds.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."

Mr. RAWLINSON

This is the Clause which gives power to the Treasury to pay this sum of £250,000,000 odd. I have not the slightest desire to oppose the Clause, but I want an assurance from the Chancellor of the Exchequer that he will at some time or other, consistent with public safety, allow the House to know exactly for what purposes this sum is to be paid over. Some parts of it are used, we know, for loans, some parts are used for necessary trading purposes, and some parts which, of course, we do know about—

The CHAIRMAN

It is not in Committee on the Bill that point can be raised. This Clause is merely machinery for carrying out the provisions of the Resolutions of the House.

Mr. RAWLINSON

May I put a question? The sum is being paid out. May I not get an assurance that when the money is paid out some statement shall be made as soon as possible?

The CHAIRMAN

Not on the present occasion. The hon. and learned Member can put that question on the Third Reading, when, no doubt, an answer will be given.

Mr. T. M. HEALY

Surely that is not so. An hon. Gentleman ought in a case of this kind to be allowed to ask a question.

The CHAIRMAN

The hon. and learned Member is no doubt aware that the Committee on the Consolidated Fund Bill is merely the machinery for carrying out the decisions of the House in Committee of Supply and corresponds exactly to the Votes then passed. Of course, there are proper occasions on which those questions can be raised.

Sir F. BANBURY

On a point of Order. I understood my hon. and learned Friend merely to ask, if he acquiesced in the passing of this particular Clause, whether the right hon. Gentleman would do certain things. Is not that in order? Otherwise, my hon. and learned Friend might divide the House against the Clause.

The CHAIRMAN

The hon. Baronet will see that would open up the whole question of the purposes for which this money is to be used, and the proper occasion for debating that is the one I have indicated.

Mr. RAWLINSON

I do not wish to discuss the purposes at all. I only wish to know, when this sum has been paid out, whether the Treasury will render an account of the purposes for which they have handed out these sovereigns.

The CHAIRMAN

The proper occasion for that is not on the Clause in Committee. There are numberless rulings on that point which I am bound to observe.

Mr. T. M. HEALY

Is it in order to ask any one of the purposes to which it is proposed to devote this money?

Sir FRANCIS LOWE

What is the object of having a Committee stage at all if there can be no discussion? It seems to me absurd.

The CHAIRMAN

I have given my ruling.

Question put, and agreed to.

Clauses 2 (Power for the Treasury to Borrow) and 3 (Short Title) agreed to.

Bill reported, without Amendment; to be read the third time on Tuesday next (28th September).