§ 45. Lieut. - Colonel Sir VIVIAN HENDERSONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is now able to make any statement as to the action which he proposes to take on the recommendations in paragraph 10 of the Report of the Select Committee on Procedure?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINHis Majesty's Government have given very careful consideration to these recommendations, which would, as the Select Committee themselves recognise, involve a major departure from present constitutional 670 practice. It is understood that a close working arrangement already exists between the Public Accounts Committee and the Estimates Committee, through the presence on the former Committee of the Chairman and at least two members of the latter body. It is desirable that these arrangements should be made permanent, but no further provision for co-operation between the two Committees seems to be called for. Nor does there appear to be any advantage in enlarging the Estimates Committee. This,Committee could not deal with major matters of policy without encroaching on the powers of the Executive Government. Where, however, questions arise in which administration and policy overlap, with administration as the predominant factor, the Estimates Committee has considered it to be within its terms of reference to make recommendations and the Government see no objection to such an interpretation, so long as the Committee continues as hitherto to interpret its terms of reference with discretion.
Careful consideration has been given to the recommendation that there should be attached to the Estimates Committee officers from the Department of the Comptroller and Auditor-General or alternatively a newly formed body of technical officers. The Government appreciate the object of the recommendation, but have come to the conclusion that the better way would be to develop the existing arrangements by placing at the disposal of the Chairman several additional officers of the Treasury who will be selected to act as assistants to the Treasury official already attached to the Committee. The proposal that opportunities should be provided for discussion by this House of the Reports of this Committee and of the Public Accounts Committee is one with which the Government is in sympathy, but the manner in which time could be provided for the purpose will need to be further and more fully considered in conjunction with the other recommendations of the Committee on Procedure.