§ 52. Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total cost for each of the past two financial years; and what is the estimated total cost for the current financial year of the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic).
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Herbert Fisher)My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. For the year 1918–19 the expenditure of the Central Control Board, including capital expenditure, exceeded the receipts from all sources by a net figure of £359,829. For the year 1919–20 the receipts exceeded the expenditure by a net figure of £48,677 9s. 3d. For the current year, I may refer the hon. Member to the Estimates presented to the House in February last (H.C. Paper 2—VIII. of 1920). It appears probable that the expenditure may not reach the figure estimated in February, but it would be premature to give a revised estimate.
§ Viscountess ASTORAs the Control Board was set up to make for national efficiency, and did so during the War, does the right hon. Gentleman not think that any expense, as long as it is increasing 1005 the general output of the country, is a saving on the part of the Government?
§ Major NALLIs it not the fact that, coincident with the life of the Control Board, production per head in industry has gone down?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI think we are in danger of being led into a Debate