HC Deb 06 March 1922 vol 151 c842
53. Lieut-Colonel POWNALL

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, seeing that the Geddes Committee was assisted by having attached to it officials from the Treasury, as has been asked for in the past by the Estimates Committee, he will, in view of the success of the Geddes Committee, reconsider the question of adding expert advisers to the Estimates Committee?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

Representatives of the Treasury have always in the past, and will, I hope, in the future, attend to give any necessary evidence to the Estimates Committee. The proposal to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, of appointing a special new official to serve the Estimates Committee, is entirely different, and is not one which I am prepared to recommend.

Lieut.-Colonel POWNALL

Was not such an official specially appointed to the Geddes Committee, which was practically a Super-Estimates Committee?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

No, Sir; that is not the case. Nor is any true parallel to be drawn between a Committee appointed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to advise him and through him to assist the Cabinet, and a Committee of this House appointed to investigate the Estimates.

Captain BENN

Is there any reason why the work of the Geddes Committee should not be continued from year to year by Members of this House?

Sir F. BANBURY

Had not the Geddes Committee four Secretaries, while the Estimates Committee have only one, and he an official of the House?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I cannot say.