MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he can state, with reference to Clause 3, Section 4, of the Irish Government Bill, 1893, the prohibition thereby of the Irish Legislature from making laws "in respect of the relations between different parts of Her Majesty's dominions" will entirely debar the Irish Legislature from dealing by enactment with the relations between Ireland and Great Britain; and whether under Clause 33, which gives to the Irish Legislature power to repeal or alter any provision of this Act, expressly made alterable by that Legislature, and also any enactments in force in Ireland, except such as either relate to matters beyond the powers of the Irish Legislature, or being enacted by Parliament after the passing of this Act may be expressly extended to Ireland, the Irish Legislature will have power to repeal or alter any provision either of Clause 3 or of Clause 4 of the Bill?
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONEI am not sure that I understand the first part of the question. I cannot understand 200 how, with the Preamble he has stated in his question, the hon. Gentleman can really have any doubt of what I must state in reply—namely, that there will be no power whatever in the Irish Legislature to make any change in Clause 3 and Clause 4 of the Bill.
§ MR. CLANCYMay I ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Return relating to the financial relations between Great Britain and Ireland for the last three years will be ready?
§ SIR W. HARCOURTI hope very soon.
§ MR. GOSCHENI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will be good enough, in anticipation of more detailed figures, to explain in general terms the difference between the Estimate of £63,352,000 for Expenditure on Imperial purposes for the year 1891–2, adopted in the Treasury Return (Financial Relations) presented in 1891, and the Estimate of £59,000,000 adopted by him as the amount of Imperial Expenditure for the purpose of financial adjustment between Great Britain and Ireland, under the Government of Ireland Bill; and if he can state whether the lower figure is mainly due to a revised classification of items to be treated as Imperial, or to anticipated reductions in the amounts of those items?
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONEThe Estimate of £59,000,000 represents a probable net Expenditure in the current financial year. The £63,352,000 is the estimated gross Expenditure for the previous year 1891–2, and it is subject to the following principal reductions:—First of all, the receipts which may be classified as Imperial are £1,616,000 in excess; next, the actual issues of 1891–2 were less than was anticipated by £490,000; whilst the cost of the Yeomanry and Volunteers, which may be considered British affairs, may be taken at £1,000,000. The year 1891–2 contains an extraordinary coinage of £400,000. Lastly, the remaining difference is due to the fact that the figures relate to different years, and that it was necessary to make certain alterations in the scheme produced in the Bill. I venture to submit, although the right hon. Gentleman's question is a perfectly fair and regular one, that it would be a great advantage if hon. Members, in making inquiries as to the contents of the Bill, 201 would exercise a good deal of reserve, so that we shall not be called upon to give full explanations of what is in the Bill at this time.
§ SIR FREDERICK DIXON-HARTLANDI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury how he proposes to deal with the Post Office and its revenue under the Government of Ireland Bill?
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONEI hope the hon. Member will not think me discourteous if I say that the remark I have just now made applies to his question, because all the provisions in the Bill in respect to the Post Office Service are quite clear. The Post Office properly so-called, the Postal Telegraph, and the Post Office Savings Bank will be transferred to the Irish Government, but the rates will be fixed by the Imperial Parliament.