§ Mr. HARMSW0RTHasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what are the reasons for the increase of £57,900 in the cost of stationery and printing for the Admiralty over the cost for 1924–25?
§ Mr. McNEILLThe figures used by the hon. Member refer to the estimated costs, and not the actual costs, for the years 1924–25 and 1925–26. £57,900 is the difference between the estimated cost for 1924–25 (£128,100) and the estimated cost for 1925–26 (£186,000). The earlier estimate, prepared in the latter part of 1923, was based on an experience of rapidly declining expenditure which it was hoped would continue. In the result, however, the actual expenditure for 1924–25 exceeded the estimate for that year by £78,762. The estimate for 1925–26 is therefore less by £20,862 than the actual expenditure in 1924–25.
EXCHEQUER (EX Gratia CONTRIBUTIONS).
§ Captain GARRO-JONESasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state the total amount of ex gratia contributions to the Exchequer by men 500W of wealth during the past five or the past 10 years, including in his statement amounts of interest relinquished on Government bonds, less the approximate amount of Income Tax which would have been deducted?
§ Mr. McNEILLTheex gratia contributions to the Exchequer received from private individuals since the outbreak of the late War have been as follows:
£ Cash, including dividends relinquished 425,177 Government stock and bonds 498,610 In addition, £366,592 was lent to the Government free of interest for varying periods. In the absence of the necessary information as to the Income Tax liability of the donors, I cannot give an estimate of the amount of Income Tax which would have been deducted.