§
Motion made, and Question proposed,
That a sum, not exceeding £1,900,000, he granted to His Majesty, to defray the Expense of the Works, Buildings, Repairs, and Lands of the Air Force, including Civilian Staff and other Charges connected therewith, which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1928.
§ Mr. GILLETTThere is one point I would like to put to the Minister, and that is whether in the arrangement of the accounts it would not be possible to make a list of the new proposals that are not actually before the House, because it seems to me that while we are 1515 only voting a sum of £163,000 this year for nine of the schemes I have taken out, the Committee ought to realise that it is pledging itself to an expenditure of £1,900,000, because we are agreeing to the commencement of some building or the reconstruction of some building, for instance, one at Singapore, and I should have been glad to know whether this is the whole expenditure involved. This year we are only going to spend £15,000, but are making ourselves liable for £221,000. The point I am putting is whether the right hon. Gentleman can see his way to have one list made up showing what the new schemes are, the actual sum for which we are making ourselves liable, and also giving us a little information about this large expenditure we are undertaking at the present time in Singapore.
§ Sir S. HOAREI am afraid I do not quite follow the hon. Gentleman. We have given the ultimate cost of these items.
§ Mr. GILLETTWhat I meant was that amongst the schemes some are old schemes, and some new. I wanted to know whether the Minister would take out the actual new proposals, because, in some cases, we are voting amounts for schemes never passed, and some for schemes about to finish, and all is muddled together. Could we have the actual new schemes not before the House put separately, so that the House might see what the new schemes arc going to cost?
§ Sir S. HOAREIf the hon. Gentleman will look at the Estimates he will see he has them. The new scheme is quite obviously a new scheme. I should have thought the columns give all the information any hon. Member could require. The ultimate expenditure at Singapore will of course be a great deal more than £15,000. This is a small sum. I could not give the general figure offhand, and if he will put the question down I will see if I can give an answer to it.