§ MR. PROVAND (Glasgow, Blackfriars)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Government will at once re-appoint the Select Committee to complete the inquiry into the financial relations of England, Scotland, and Ireland, commenced during the last Parliament, in order that the Evidence taken may be at the service of the House when the Financial Clauses of the Government of Ireland Bill are being considered?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. E. GLADSTONE, Edinburgh, Midlothian)It is not the intention of the Government to propose the re-appointment of this Committee. In the first place, I think it would be quite impossible to re-appoint the Committee in time to reap any benefit from its labours in conjunction with the discussions on the Irish Government Bill; and, in the second place, I am not sure that that re-appointment would be a very easy matter; for although I think the intention of the late Chancellor of the Exchequer in proposing it was a very excellent one, yet great difficulties were found to be in his way, and I am afraid it may be found that all those difficulties have not yet altogether been removed.
§ MR. W. JOHNSTONDid not the difficulties arise from the opposition of the supporters of the Prime Minister from Wales?
§ MR. J. REDMOND (Waterford)May I ask whether, in view of the fact that the new financial scheme is of a provisional character, the right hon. Gentleman will consider the advisability of issuing some tribunal, such as a Royal 683 Commission, to investigate the financial relations between the two countries, so that, at the end of the provisional time contemplated, the House will be in a position to know with some degree of accuracy what the proper contribution of Ireland to the Imperial expenses should be?
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONEI quite agree with what I think is the spirit of the question of the hon. Gentleman—that it is desirable for us, especially before Parliament should adopt anything like a definitive or permanent plan, to obtain the best information by all means that we can upon the subject. At the same time, I think it would be premature, if he will allow me to say so, to determine now upon the exact means of obtaining that information. A Royal Commission, if it is to be appointed, would be appointed with very much greater advantage after the political excitement connected immediately with the discussion of the measure shall have passed away, as we are inclined to hope it will do. We expect to derive a great deal of light from the provision we propose to the House for the appointment of a Committee for joint action of the Treasury and the new Irish Government.
§ MR. J. REDMONDIs the right hon. Gentleman alluding to the provision for a Joint Committee to decide upon certain charges?
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONEYes.
§ MR. J. REDMONDI apprehend that that will not be a tribunal to investigate the whole question of the financial relations and the proper proportion which Ireland should pay?
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONENo; I have not said that that ought to stand in lieu of everything else. All I have said is that it would obtain a great deal of valuable information.
§ MR. SEXTONMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman will have any objection to consider the utility of inserting in the Bill a provision enabling the Joint Committee to extend its functions so as not only to deal with the matters now contemplated by the Bill, but also to inquire as to the proper share of the contribution of Ireland to the Imperial charges?
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONEThat is a very fair matter, indeed, for consideration; but I should like to make this reserve: I should not like to make this proposal as a new subject for sharp contention in the House. If there was a general feeling in its favour, I do not see why that course should not be adopted.
§ MR. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)Do we understand from the right hon. Gentleman that we are to have a third financial scheme before the Bill passes through the House?
§ [No answer was given.]