HC Deb 07 December 1925 vol 189 cc25-6
45. Sir J. NALL

asked the Prime Minister if he will consider the desirability of setting up a separate Select Committee for each group of Estimates, with instructions to report in detail before the Estimates are considered in Committee of Supply?

The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Baldwin)

I think it preferable to follow the usual procedure, and I see no useful purpose in appointing more than one Committee. The Select Committee on Estimates, if it so desired, could ask for leave to appoint sub-committees.

Sir J. NALL

Is it not the fact that the investigations made by the Select Committee take place some time after the Vote has been granted, and that, therefore, the investigations are generally useless from the point of view of effecting economy?

Sir F. WISE

Could the Prime Minister strengthen the terms of reference of the Estimates Committee?

The PRIME MINISTER

I will examine the terms of reference again.