§ 36. Mr. Grimondasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the recent estimates of expenditure for the Coronation will be spent in Scotland, in Wales, in Northern Ireland and in England outside London, respectively.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerIt is not possible to state exactly where expenditure on the various services connected with the Coronation will arise. I am, however, circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT information as to the amounts specifically provided in the Estimates for the major functions outside London.
§ Mr. GrimondWould the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that if this large sum of money is to be expended on the Coronation it is highly desirable that consideration should be given to the claims of the Kingdom of Scotland and the Principality of Wales for a substantial contribution towards the festivities in those countries, as well as the claims of England and Northern Ireland?
§ Mr. ButlerReference is made to Her Majesty's visit to Edinburgh and Her Majesty's visit to Caernarvon in the account which I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the information:
§ Most of the Exchequer expenditure relates directly or indirectly to the main Coronation celebrations in London, but the following amounts are included for the major functions outside London:
| £ | |
| Naval Review | 63,000 |
| R.A.F. Fly Past | 16,500 |
| Her Majesty's visit to Edinburgh | 4,000 |
| Her Majesty's visit to Caernarvon | 4,000 |
§ Exchequer grants on the expenditure of local education authorities in providing Coronation celebrations for schoolchildren will, of course, be spread over the whole country, but as they will depend upon the local authorities' decisions on the scale of expenditure it is not practicable to give an apportionment at this stage.
§ The figures which my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary gave in answer to the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Emrys Hughes) on 10th March do not include expenditure in Northern Ireland, nor do they include the cost of local celebrations falling on local rates.
§ 41. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Chancellor or the Exchequer to what extent the Organisation and Methods Department of the Civil Service has been employed in connection with expenditure incurred for the Coronation.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThere is very little scope for O and M inquiries in connection with the Coronation arrangements. The Earl Marshal's Office sought O and M advice in setting up its records, and, in the Ministry of Works, O and M participated in making the arrangements for the sale of seats in stands.
§ Mr. Emrys HughesIs the Chancellor aware that when he was in America searching for dollars the Departments indulged in an orgy of reckless spending and that the bill is now up to £2 million? Would he consider diverting some of this to reducing the cost to parents of school meals?
§ Mr. ButlerI can assure the hon. Gentleman that I went to America to seek that we should earn dollars. That is the correct description of my trip to America. I was in close touch with the figures of Government expenditure the whole time.