§
Motion made, and Question proposed,
That a Supplementary sum, not exceeding £1,500, be granted to His Majesty, to
1773
defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1932, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Department of His Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Eden)The explanation of this small Supplementary Estimate can be briefly given. It is due in the main to the patriotism of the British public in refraining from travel abroad in a time of national need. The Estimate, in respect of passport fees which we had made was fulfilled up to August last, when owing to our departure from the Gold Standard and the imposition of additional taxation and most of all, the national appeal to people to spend money at home there was a sharp and immediate fall in the output of approximately 15 per cent. We were able to make up for that loss up to December by doubling the cost of the fees, which we did, with the consent of the Treasury. 1774 Since the beginning of this year there has been a considerable further falling off, and as we anticipate that the Easter traffic this year will also be very much less, we are compelled to come for this £1,500 to make up for the Estimate which we presented to the House last year.
§ Resolutions to be reported To-morrow; Committee to sit again To-morrow.
§ The remaining Orders were read, and postponed.