Considered in Committee, under Standing Order No. 69.—[King's Recommendation signified.]

[Colonel Sir CHARLES MACANDREW in the Chair.]

Motion made, and Question proposed, That, for the purposes of any Act of the present Session to increase the sums available for defraying expenses incurred by the Minister of Works under Section one of the Housing (Temporary Accommodation) Act, 1944, it is expedient to authorise the increase by twenty million pounds of the limit upon the sums which the Treasury may issue out of the Consolidated Fund for the purpose of defraying the expenses aforesaid."—[Mr. Key.]

3.59 p.m.

I think that when we are dealing with an estimate of £20 million it would not be unreasonable for the Committee to have a representative of the Treasury here. Ordinary Members of Parliament who have to account for individual amounts, as I have to my constituents, in these large sums of money, naturally expect on occasions such as this that we should have the highest possible financial expert to explain the position to us. The sum involved, as you have stated, Sir Charles, is £20 million, and—

It being Four o'Clock The CHAIRMAN left the Chair to make his report to the House.

Committee report Progress; to sit again upon Monday next.