§ 13. Mr. BATEYasked the Minister of Labour whether the whole amount of £15,000 required for the National Council of Social Service is to be voted by this House; and whether this sum includes the £10,000 in the Supplementary Estimate adopted last December?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe sums of £7,500 and £15,000 mentioned in the reply given to the hon. Member on the 13th February relate to the period up to 31st December, 1933. In so far as any payment is made up to 31st March next it will be covered by the sum of £10,000 already voted. Any payments after 31st March will be provided for in the Esti- 1155 mates for 1933–34 to be introduced in due course.
§ Mr. BATEYIs it not strange for the House to be asked to vote a definite sum of £10,000 and then for the Minister to commit the House to £15,000?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe hon. Gentleman is under a misapprehension. No sum further than the amount voted a month or two ago has been spent. A further sum will appear in the Estimates in the usual course.
§ Mr. LAWSONThe right hon. Gentleman says that the £l0,000 was voted only until the 31st March, and that £5,000 was again in anticipation of what the House is going to vote?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI do not think that the hon. Gentleman has got it quite right. The sum voted two months ago, £10,000, was up to the 31st March next. Any further sum which will be required will, of course, appear in the Estimates and be subject to discussion.