§ MR. LOUGHI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he has noticed that the amount collected for Imperial taxes in Ireland in the year ending 31st March 1894, the last year included in the Report of the late Royal Commission, was £7,568,649; and that, according to Return No. 337, issued in August 1896, the amount exacted in the year ending 31st March 1896 was £8,034,384, being an increase of £465,735 over the amount pronounced, with the practical unanimity of the late Commissioners, to be two and three-quarter millions in excess of what Ireland could justly pay: and whether, as he has announced his intention of appointing another Royal Commission, which will take some time to report, the Government is prepared to undertake that such financial arrangements shall be made this year as will at least prevent any sum in excess of the revenue of 1894 being collected in any one year in Ireland until a definite decision has been arrived at upon the report made by the late Royal Commission?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI think the hon. Gentleman has mistaken the nature of the argument advanced by the late Royal Commission in support of their conclusions. As a matter of fact, the disparity between what Ireland does pay and what in the opinion of the late Commission she ought to pay is less now than it was at the time the late Commission reported.
§ MR. LOUGHBut, leaving aside any error in the figures, will the Government arrange that, pending the consideration of the question whether the taxation of Ireland shall be reduced, no increase of taxation will take place?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI hope the hon. Gentleman will put down on the Paper any question on the subject which he desires me to answer.