Mr. Chamberlain said in reply that the Government had made
immense progress in reducing expenditure. Last year we spent £2,160,000,000, and had to borrow part of it. This year the Estimate of £1,282,000,000 would suffice—since the Supplemen- tary Estimates would bo balanced by savings—and we should also redeem debt to the amount, perhaps, of £230,000,000, despite the decline in trade. No other country, except Denmark, could balance its Budget as we were doing. Mr. Chamberlain dealt in detail with Mr. Asquith's charges of extravagance, and said that Mr. Asquith's agreement with the railway companies had imposed a heavy burden on the Exchequer. Mr. Chamber- lain would not admit that next year could be a " normal year." The suggested total of £808,000,000 would only provide for interest and redemption of debt, Consolidated Fund, pensions, tho revenue departments, police, unemployment insurance, training of ex-Service men and education,leaving nothing for the Services or the other Civil departments.
