§ 84. Mr. C. ROBERTSasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will lay before Parliament the proper Estimates for his Department for the year ending 31st March, 1919; and if he will state what his Department has spent in the year ending 31st March, 1918. on the sub-heads: salaries, wages, and allowances, travelling expenses, incidental expenses, food economy propaganda, rationing expenses, national kitchens, subsidies towards the sale of foodstuffs, and Appropriations-in-Aid, respectively?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe form in which the Civil Services and Revenue Departments Estimates are presented to this House is a matter not for me, but for the Financial Secretary to the Treasury. The actual expenditure is, I understand, defrayed out of the Vote of Credit, and is recorded in the Appropriation Account.
If the hon. Member would care to see a provisional summary of expenditure before the actual particulars are made public, I will cause one to be sent to him.
§ Mr. ROBERTSCould the right hon. Gentleman arrange that the Estimates of his Department should be given in the usual way, instead of the very obscure and inconvenient form in which they are now presented to Parliament?
§ Mr. CLYNESI am not well versed in regard to this procedure, and I cannot commit myself to any alteration without further consideration.
§ Mr. ROBERTSCan they not be presented in the usual way?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat question should be addressed to the Secretary to the Treasury.