§ MR. H. HERBERTsaid, he wished to put a question to the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer respecting the intention of the Government in relation to the Irish Consolidated Annuities, as some misconception appeared to prevail upon the subject. He wished to know whether the Government intended to make any distinctions, or to remove the whole of the Annuities, in consideration of the imposition of the income tax being extended to Ireland.
§ The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, I am much obliged to my hon. Friend for having put a question to me upon a point so important as this. I stated last night that the whole of the Consolidated Annuities due from Ireland represented nearly 4.500.000l. of money, 1,500,000l. of which in round numbers was due to grants of money connected with the introduction of the system of the poor-law, whilst the other 3,000,000l. had reference to grants connected with the famine. I drew this distinction only to put the Committee in full possession of the nature of the case with which they were to deal. I did not mean that the Government intended to draw any such distinction, or any distinction at all, with regard to the mode of dealing in reference to the propositions of the Government. The propositions of the Government will be, both with regard to the 3,000,000l. and to the other portion of 1,500,000l., to sweep away the whole obligation of Ireland to England upon that account from the 29th of last September.