§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the nature of the change introduced in 1888–9 in the system of accounting for the removals from Customs warehouses of duty-paid spirits between England, Scotland, and Ireland?
§ SIR W. HARCOURTThe Board of Customs are not aware that any change was introduced in 1888–89, in the system of accounting for removals from Customs warehouses of duty-paid spirits between England, Scotland, and Ireland. Before the 5th July, 1890, no record of such removals was kept; but from that date a system of recording such removals has been introduced.
§ MR. A. O'CONNORMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that a change introduced, or by whatever epithet it may be described, has resulted in a loss to the credit of Ireland of no less than £360,000 a year in the appropriation between the three Kingdoms.
§ SIR W. HARCOURTI must ask the hon. Member to put the question on the Paper.
§ MR. A. O'CONNORMay I ask whether, before the Government of Ireland Bill goes into Committee, he will afford the Irish Members an opportunity of understanding and appreciating the system which has been adopted and is now in operation.
§ SIR W. HARCOURTThe hon. Member perfectly well knows he can obtain the information he desires by putting a question on the subject upon the Paper. I must ask him not to put these questions on hand.