§ 59. Sir PHILIP PILDITCHasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will, in future publications of the Memorandum on present and pre-War expenditure, which has been published, on his motion, during the past five years, replace in Table I the figures relative to at least one of the War years, which have always been included until the issue of Cmd. 2428, this year, so as to afford a more complete view of the successive reductions in expenditure which have been effected?
Mr. GUINNESSThe table published this year is in a revised and, I think, much improved form, showing the actual net cost of the different services in 1913–14, and year by year since 1920–21. This gives the clearest comparison between pre-War and post-War expenditure. For the War years it is only possible to give a full analysis on a gross basis which is not properly comparable with the post-War net figures. I will consider in the next return whether, without a full analysis, some indication of the main war figures on a comparable basis can be given.
§ Sir P. PILDITCHIs my right hon. Friend aware—he probably is—that in 286 previous years the expenditure of the War period has been given?
Mr. GUINNESSYes, that is true, and it was partly to save printing and partly because all these figures were on record in previous returns, available to hon. Members, that the table was suppressed, but I will see whether the information can be given.