§ MR. HEALYasked the Secretary of State for War, If he will state the total increase in the amount charged for the Army and Army Service in Ireland for the years 1879, 1880, and 1881, stating each year's increase separately?
§ MR. CHILDERSSir, in reply to the hon. Member for Wexford (Mr. Healy), I have to state that it would be extremely difficult to give any return of expenditure on the Army and Navy Services in Ireland with absolute accuracy. For instance, purchases are made in Ireland for the use of the Army in England, and in England for the use of the Army in Ireland, and it would be next to impossible to analyze and distribute these payments. So, again, it is impossible to distribute between Great Britain and Ireland the Non-Effective Charges, such as Pensions. But, excluding arms and accoutrements, which are depreciated rather than expended, and Non-Effective Charges, I may say that the following would be substantially accurate—namely, for 1878–9, £1,700,000; for 1879–80, £1,500,000; for 1880–1, £1,780,000; and for 1881–2, £1,800,000.