§ Lieutenant-Colonel PICKERINGasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the advisability of setting up a committee of business men to investigate the present operations of various war Departments, in order to prevent waste of public funds; and if he is satisfied that none of these Departments are still purchasing war equipment in excess of the quantities likely to be required?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINAs I stated on the 19th inst., it is proposed that the Select Committee on National Expenditure should be reappointed, and I am not228W disposed to appoint yet another Committee to investigate the present operations of spending Departments. I am satisfied that Departments realise that war equipment should not be purchased in excess of the requisite quantities.