The Estimates • The Estimates for 1931-32 published during the
week. end have done nothing to dissipate the gloomy forebod- ings with which Mr. Snowden's Budget is awaited. It looks as though the Chancellor of the Exchequer—who, we trust, will soon recover from the painful complaint which has laid him aside—will have to find some £21,000,000 more than he required last year. The total Estimates, with the increases or decreases, are as follow :- Navy ..
£51,605,000 .. —042,000 Army .. £39,930,000 .. —£570,000 Air .. .. 118,100,000 .. +£250,000 Civil .. £317,811,962 .. +02,126,434 Revenue Departments £11,568,580 .. —066,070
£439,015,572 .. +21,106,364
The service of the Debt and Consolidated Fund charges amounted last year to £313,900,000, but a Pew millions may be saved owing to lower money rates on Treasury bills. On the other hand, £60,000,000 must, by statute, be paid to the Sinking Fund. Thus it is calculated that Mr. Snowden will want about £805,000,000.
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