§ 65. Mr. GEORGE LAMBERTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can say approximately under what heads has the national expenditure been increased from £5,000,000 a day in December last to nearly £8,000,000 a day now?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI think that my right hon. Friend will realise that it is not possible within the limits of an answer to make a comparison such as he suggests, though I may point out that the average expenditure for December for all services was not £5,000,000, but over £6,000,000 a day. As, however, I am aware that considerable apprehension exists in connection with the current rate of expenditure, I shall be glad, in order to avoid any misunderstanding of the position, to circulate a statement shortly comparing the present rate of expenditure with the rate in or about December last, and so far as possible giving full explanations of the items which make up the current expenditure and the basis on which the figures are compiled. Perhaps my right hon. Friend will be good enough to put down an unstarred question for Thursday next, which will enable me to circulate this statement.
§ Mr. P. A. HARRISDoes the right hon. Gentleman not think that those figures justify the giving of an early date for a discussion on the Motion which stands in the name of the hon. and gallant Member for Greenock (Major G. Collins) ["That this House is of opinion, in view of the continued growth of expenditure, taxation, and debt, that a Committee be appointed consisting of Members of this House, with power to review all National Expenditure, examine Ministers and officials, and report to the House"].
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI shall be ready to afford a day for such a discussion as soon as it is convenient in the public interest for me to do so. I hope the statement I have made will do something to allay apprehensions on the matter.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThat is quite impossible.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI am not sure.