§ 50. Mr. MARRIOTTasked the Prime Minister whether, notwithstanding the amendment of the Rules of Procedure, the Government intends to adopt the recommendation of the Select Committee on National Expenditure and to set up one or more Estimates Committees?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWHaving regard to the new Rules of Procedure and to the re-appointment of the Select Committee on Public Expenditure, His Majesty's Government do not propose to adopt my Hon. Friend's suggestion this year. The matter, however, will be reconsidered before next year in the light of the further experience which will then be available.
§ Mr. MARRIOTTIs my right hon. Friend aware that the recommendations of the Select Committee were based upon advice received from many of the principal officials of the House, and some of the most experienced members of the Committee do not regard the new Rules of Procedure as at all meeting the recommendations which they have made?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI am very familiar with the recommendations of the Committee and, as I stated, what we have done is to set up the Select Committee on Expenditure, but we have concluded that from this year the course suggested is not practicable.
§ Lieutenant-Colonel WEIGALLWill the new Committee on Public Expenditure cover the same field as the Select Committee of last year or a wider field?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI have not looked at the terms of reference, but I think it will be pretty well on the same basis as the last Committee.