asked the Chancellor of the exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the fact shown by the Eighteenth Report of the Select Committee on National Expenditure, that on the average four months elapsed between the dates of the publication of the 11 Reports referred to in it and the dates on which the Departments concerned addressed to the Select Committee their comments on the matters referred to therein; and, having regard to the need of economy in public expenditure, will he take steps to ensure that, in respect of future Reports of the Select Committee, Departmental procedure will be accelerated?

It is the practice of Government Departments to give immediate consideration to all the recommendations of the Select Committee on National Expenditure. My hon. Friend is not justified in his inference that the period which elapsed between the date of a Report and the late of Departmental comments is evidence of delay in consideration. In many cases those comments are in the nature of progress reports or reports of action which has already been taken.

If the recommendations are approved, will the right hon. Gentle man ask the Departments to speed up their procedure?

I am sure that the Departments will do all they can.