asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the amount expended in 1928-9 under Sub-head I of the Land Commission estimate which he classifies as abnormal expenditure, and if he will state on what basis the amount of such abnormal expenditure is calculated.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Abnormal Expenditure (Land Commission).
In the Budget statement of April, 1928, the Minister treated the amount of the estimate for improvement of estates (Sub-head I of the Land Commission Vote) in excess of £100,000 as abnormal expenditure. The amount expended from that sub-head during the year 1928-29 was £226,800, and accordingly £126,800 falls to be treated as abnormal expenditure.
I desire to call the attention of the House to the fact that the Minister for Finance has not answered the second part of the question, which I think is of great importance, that is to say, how is this abnormal expenditure calculated and what is the basis of it? There is a general feeling abroad which I am sure the Ministry want to dissipate, that these figures are taken somewhat arbitrarily. In these cases I think we ought to know what is the basis for taking a certain amount of money and calling it capital expenditure.
It seems it is answered, inasmuch as the Minister estimated that under normal circumstances the normal expenditure on this sub-head would be £100,000. He in his wisdom estimated that as normal, consequently everything in excess of that is abnormal.