HL Deb 01 June 1866 vol 183 cc1682-3

Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.

LORD BELPER

wished to know why the conduct of this Department had been intrusted to an individual instead of to a Board, and what were the duties to be performed by the Assistant Auditor General?

Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2ª"—(The Lord President.)

EARL GRANVILLE

said, the reason was that the peculiar business of this Department could be better transacted by a single individual than by a Board. With regard to the second question, it was requisite that there should be an Assistant in case of any unusual pressure of business.

LORD NORTHBROOK

thought the Bill required a closer examination than it could receive in a Committee of the Whole House, as it was very important that the efficiency of the Audit of the public money should not be impaired. He would ask the noble Earl, whether he would consent to refer it to a Select Committee?

EARL GRANVILLE

said, he could not give a definite answer to the question at that moment, but his present impression was that it would be undesirable to refer the Bill to a Select Committee, their Lordships having so much difficulty in dealing with particular clauses on account of the privileges of the other House of Parliament.

Motion agreed to: Bill read 2ª accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Friday next.