§ 29. Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the Prime Minister whether the Government will reconsider their decision not to appoint an independent committee with regard to the question of limiting the public expenditure to not more than a certain proportion of the estimated national income?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs a full discussion on public expenditure will soon take place, this suggestion, amongst others, can be put forward and examined.
§ 38. Mr. LOCKER - LAMPSONasked the Prime Minister whether he is now prepared to say when the House will have an opportunity of discussing the Treasury Vote?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs my hon. Friend knows, this must depend on whether and when the Vote is asked for in the ordinary way.
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONAre we to understand that it is quite impossible for the rest of the House to have a 22 Debate on a particular question of finance unless the Opposition ask for it?
§ The PRIME MINISTEROn Supply—that was the undertaking given by my right hon. Friend the Lord President of Council when he first introduced the Guillotine Resolution, that the choice of the particular topic for discussion should be left to the Opposition. Every Government has adhered honourably to that understanding, and I think it is a good one. There ought to be no difficulty. I understand that the Opposition is just as anxious as my hon. Friend to discuss expenditure, judging by their speeches outside, and I cannot imagine that they would make speeches outside without being prepared to make them here.
§ Sir D. MACLEANIs my right hon. Friend aware that the Opposition—[HON. MEMBERS: "Which Opposition?"]—when invited by the Government to adopt a frontal attack, think it a very much better policy to find a way round by the regular Estimates from week to week, and if the Government wish an opportunity of debating the subject, they can find it in their own way by moving the Adjournment of the House?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWell, but my right hon. Friend would prefer not making a frontal attack on expenditure. That is the open, straightforward way of challenging the policy of the Government on expenditure, and here is an opportunity for them to do so.
§ Sir D. MACLEANIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that we have two opportunities at least, on the Second Reading and the Third Reading of the Consolidated Fund Bill, and, from his knowledge of working in Opposition, does he not know the great value of keeping in hand as many days as possible to cover as wide a field as possible for discussing the Estimates?
§ The PRIME MINISTERFrom that, I gather that he is in no hurry to discuss public expenditure.