51. Captain ARTHUR EVANSasked the, Prime Minister, in view of the present unsatisfactory procedure of requesting this House to approve of Supplementary Estimates after the-money has been spent, if he will consider the advisability of appointing a Committee to examine alternate methods of procedure applicable in all cases other than those of national emergency?
§ Mr. BALDWINI do not think a Committee to consider procedure would assist the hon. and gallant Member's object, with which I am in entire sympathy. Estimates cannot be exceeded without Parliamentary authority except in urgent cases by limited and temporary advances from the Civil Contingencies Fund, and it is in all cases the duty of the executive to obtain Parliamentary authority at the earliest possible moment if an excess on the original provision for the year is in sight. It is precisely for this reason that certain Supplementary Estimates have been presented now.
§ Captain WEDGWOOD BENNHas the right hon. Gentleman made up his mind as to the desirability of setting up an effective Estimates Committee of this House to deal with subjects of this kind?
§ Sir F. BANBURYWill the right hon. Gentleman take steps to carry out the excellent statement which he has just made?
§ Mr. BALDWINCertainly.