§ 45. Captain NORTHasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that the Committee on National Expenditure was unable to review in detail the expenditure of each Department and that economies in Departments cannot be achieved without review being made by some independent body, he will consider the desirability of appointing forthwith separate committees to make recommendations as to the possibility of further reductions being made in each of the spending Departments?
§ The LORD PRESIDENT of the COUNCIL (Mr. Baldwin)I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the replies given to him on the 2nd and 9th May, 1932, by the Prime Minister and the Financial Secretary to the Treasury respectively. For the reasons given by the Prime Minister, I cannot accept my hon. and gallant Friend's premise that economies cannot be achieved without a further review being made by some new body.
§ Captain NORTHWill the right hon. Gentleman take the first possible opportunity of making a statement to the House upon this most important question?
§ Mr. BALDWINIt is not for me to do that. As a matter of fact, there is a Motion down, and we are considering whether time can be given to it. It is awaiting the return of the Chancellor of 982 the Exchequer, whose primary business it is.