§ MR. T. LOUGH (Islington, W.)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has noticed, with regard to the completed evidence which has now been published by the Royal Commission on the Financial Relations with Ireland, that the only statement which the Commission has been able to furnish of the amount of the annual payments of taxation by Ireland, so far as derived from Customs and Excise Duties, is based on figures provided by carrying companies for a period of four months ending on the 31st March 1891, and that the estimate of Irish payments during the last 77 years, since the abolition of the Customs cordon, rests solely on this basis; and that, as regards; one important item (tobacco), the Treasury has, since that date, found reason to question the result of the four months inquiry; whether some 76 per cent. of the total Irish revenue is raised by such duties, while only some 53 per cent. of the British revenue is so raised; and whether, as it is most important that this House should have actual figures when it comes to deal with the grave questions raised by the Royal Commission, he is willing, by the re-establishment of the Customs cordon, or by some other equally effective Measure, to take such steps as may be necessary to ascertain more exactly what the annual amount of taxation raised from Ireland really is?
§ *THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir MICHAEL HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W.The Royal Commission has of course given full consideration to this subject, and it is open to them to make any recommendation upon it which they may think fit. In the absence of such a recommendation, I do not think I should be justified in taking such a step as is suggested by the hon. Member.