MR. T. LOUGH (Islington, W.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the proposed new Financial Commissioners are precluded by the terms of the reference from taking, if they see fit, the view taken by the majority of the late Commission, viz., that, under the terms of the Act of Union and the Consolidation Act, 1816, the Exchequer expenditure in Ireland (except when similar expenditure is defrayed by local rates in Great Britain) cannot properly be taken as a set off to excess of revenue contributed by Ireland?
THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI do not think the terms of reference can bind members of the Commission as to any decision to which they may come with regard to the matters submitted to them.