§ 50. Mr. Manderasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount spent on the Secret Service in 1913, 1923, 1933, and 1938; and how many Debates have been held on this Vote in the last 20 years?
§ Captain CrookshankI will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate in the Official Report the figures asked for in the first part of his question. In reply to the second part, two Debates have been held on the Secret Service Vote in the last 20 years, namely on 9th December, 1919, and 2nd August, 1920.
§ Mr. ManderIn view of the frequent appalling ignorance of the British Government on the subject of what is going on abroad, does the Financial Secretary really—?
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member knows quite well that he may not put that sort of question on the Paper. The same rule applies to supplementary questions as to questions that are put on the Paper.
§ Mr. ManderMay I put the question in this way? Will the Financial Secretary, in the circumstances, be good enough to arrange for a Debate on the Secret Service?
§ Mr. SandysIs it not generally accepted that the British Secret Service is as fine and efficient an organisation as any in the world?
§ Following are the figures:
| Expenditure out of the Secret Service Vote in the years mentioned: | ||||
| £ | ||||
| 1913 | … | … | 46,840 | |
| 1923 | … | … | 162,703 | |
| 1933 | … | … | 178,609 | |
| 1938 | … | … | 416,500 | approximately. |