THE CONTKOL OF MONEY l6l

All the money collected forms the Consolidated Fund; out of
this the law allows certain payments, called Consolidated Fund
charges, to be made regularly, without repeated consent from
Parliament. For other payments, Parliament must give authority
every year, by passing an Appropriation Act. The most note-
worthy of the Consolidated Fund charges are the interest and
other expenses connected with the National Debt, the Qvil List
and the salaries of the more important Judges. Thus people who
lend money to the Government can feel sure that their interest
will not suddenly cease because of a refusal by Parliament to
grant it; and judges can feel themselves independent of the
majority in Parliament. Parliament could alter this arrangement
by passing a new law; but as matters now stand, if Parliament
wishes to stop • the Consolidated Fund charges it must take
positive action; to stop other payments it need only refrain
from passing the next Appropriation Act. Taxation is divided
on the same plan as expenditure;. Death Duties and indirect
taxation continue without yearly approval; the collection of
Income Tax is made lawful from year to year by a Finance Act.

ESTIMATES.

Money must be raised before it can be spent; yet the total
to be spent must be settled before the raising can be discussed*
So Parliament's first financial task is to discuss the Estimates
which each Department has made of the money it will require.
From October till the end of the year the Departments are in
consultation with the Treasury, to whom the Estimates are
finally sent. The Departments have to consider how much
they spent last year and how far changes of Government
policy and natural factors, such as growth of population, will
affect the figures for this year. In February it is moved in the
House of Commons that the Speaker leave the Chair so that
the House can become "Committee of Supply". This gives rise
to four debates, on the Civil, Navy, Army, and Air Force
Estimates respectively. Private Members have here an oppor-