§ 47. Mr. WALLACEasked the Prime Minister whether he will agree to the appointment of a small Committee of business Members of the House of Commons to inquire into the alleged extravagance of various Government Departments, with full powers to call for information on such matters as the alleged extravagance in expensive and unnecessary accommodation and personnel and prodigal expenditure in stationery, postage, etc.?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not think it would serve any useful purpose to duplicate the work of the Select Committee on National Expenditure and the Public Accounts Committee.
§ Mr. WALLACEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of us know of cases of the specific extravagance of Government Departments, and does he not consider it advisable to appoint this Committee which will really help the Government in that way?
§ Mr. MARRIOTTIs it not a fact that the Select Committee on National Expenditure has asked all the Members of this House to bring such cases before their notice?
§ Mr. WALLACEI beg to give notice that I shall raise this question—
§ The PRIME MINISTERI understood that there were cases of that kind which could be brought before the attention of the Select Committee, and now I learn from a member of that Committee that they are only too anxious to investigate them. If these cases were brought before the notice of the Ministers, with particulars, which might be confidential, we should be glad to investigate the cases, and it would assist us considerably in cutting down expenditure. We rather invite Members to bring these cases to our notice.
§ Lieut.-Colonel CROFTWill the Report of the Committee be published at once?