The table given above analyses the Home Accounts in a way which brings out the essential facts more clearly than the Government’s own published accounts. These actual figures may be compared with the hypothetical balance–sheet given in § 13.

The principal items of the Home Charges are analysed below. As these do not vary much from year to year it has been thought sufficient to give the figures of one recent year, namely, 1911–12. It will be seen that in that year about £5,000,000 was spent on pensions and leave allowances, £11,000,000 on debt services, and £2,250,000 on military services (excluding pensions). Other expenses were of a very small amount.

Analysis of Home Charges in 1911–12

Superannuation and pensions(Civil)£2,063,100
(Military)(net)2,471,400
Furlough allowances426,500
Interest on ordinary debt2,284,700
Interest on railway debt and on capital deposited by companies5,268,600
Railway annuities and sinking funds3,623,600
Military services (apart from pensions)2,277,400
Miscellaneous1,130,200
————
£19,545,500
Revenue from interest£448,000
Miscellaneous revenue141,600
————589,600
—————
£18,955,900
═══════

The total drawings of Council Bills, the average, maximum and minimum rates of allotment, and the fluctuation between the maximum and minimum in recent years were as follows:

Total Drawings
of Council Bills.
Average
Rate.
Maximum
Rate.
Minimum
Rate.
Fluctuation.
£dddd
1901–0218,500,00015·98716·12515·875·250
1902–0318,500,00016·00216·15615·875·281
1903–0423,900,00016·04916·15615·875·281
1904–0524,400,00016·04516·15615·970·186
1905–0631,600,00016·04216·15615·937·219
1906–0733,400,00016·08416·187515·937·250
1907–0815,300,00016·02916·187515·875·312
1908–0913,900,00015·96416 15·875·125
1909–1027,400,00016·04116·15615·875·281
1910–1126,500,00016·06116·15615·875·281
1911–1227,100,00016·08216·15615·937·219
1912–1325,700,00016·05816·15615·970·186

CHAPTER VI

THE SECRETARY OF STATE’S RESERVES AND THE CASH BALANCES