44. Colonel NEWMANasked the Prime Minister whether he has received a copy of a personal letter from Field-Marshal Earl Haig, appealing for £5,000,000, to assist 33,000 disabled officers, 10,000 officers' widows, and 25,000 orphans and children of officers; whether he is aware that the sum mentioned could be immediately saved by a more drastic cutting down of redundant Government offices and officials; and will he promise on behalf of the Government that if the public subscribe £1,000,000 within six months, the Government will make up the balance required?
§ Mr. BALDWINAs regards the first and third sections of the question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 19th May to my hon. Friend the Member for Maldon, to which I have nothing to add. It is not the case that £5,000,000 could be immediately saved by a more drastic cutting down of redundant Government offices and officials. Constant attention is being given to the reduction of staffs, but savings under this head can only accrue gradually.
§ Mr. BALDWINI could not give an undertaking of that kind.
§ Lieut.-Colonel CROFTCould not the Disposal Board be abolished, as a means of saving some of this money?
§ Mr. BILLINGThe Government have done a very similar thing in offering to double any money raised for the children of our late enemies. If they could do that, surely they can do it in this case?
§ Mr. BALDWINThat offer was temporary and special, and is now at an end.