The reasons are two.

First, because Estimates give more time and opportunity for the mere bore and obstructive than any other part of Parliamentary business.

On the Estimates, as I have often explained, every single penny spent in the public service has to be entered.

Whether that sum be large or small makes no difference.

For instance, there is a charwoman at the Foreign Office; the charwoman's salary appears in the accounts just as bold and just as plain as the five thousand a year which the country has to pay for Lord Rosebery--who is cheap at the money, I must say, lest I be misunderstood.