§ Mr. SWANasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average weekly expenditure is and what the average weekly income is?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe average amounts of weekly expenditure and income in the period from 1st April, 1920, to 4th December, 1920, have been, on the basis of Exchequer issues and receipts, £21,545,000 and £23,034,000, as against an original Budget estimate at the rate of £22,709,000 and £27,200,000 per week. Neither expenditure nor income is constant throughout the year; expenditure on Supply services is usually heavier in the second half-year, and the greater part of the revenue is received in the March quarter. Average figures for a portion only of the financial year are to this extent misleading.