§ Mr. Garro Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the Public Accounts Committee have reported that, in a certain case, the political departments of the Foreign Office did not appear to have appreciated the possibility that a certain decision might have financial consequences; and whether it has yet been found possible to make the permanent head of the Foreign Office also the 1605W accounting officer, as is the practice in nearly every other Department?
§ Viscount CranborneI presume that the reference is to paragraph 4 of the report of the Public Accounts Committee issued in July, 1935. It will be seen from paragraph 2 of the second report of the Public Accounts Committee issued in July, 1936, that the Treasury subsequently assured the Committee that the position at the Foreign Office is regarded as a temporary exception from the general principle on account of the abnormal conditions obtaining in that Department. These conditions remain unchanged, but, as stated in the Treasury Minute dated 19th January, 1937, on the report last referred to, the position will be kept under review.