HC Deb 19 March 1900 vol 80 cc1198-9
MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he will sanction a Return showing the comparative outlay in England, Scotland, and Ireland respectively on foot of Government stores and supplies purchased since the beginning of the current finan- cial year, 1st April, 1899, to present time, in view of the importance of this information in its bearing on the question of the Financial Relations between Great Britain and Ireland, which is down for discussion on an early date.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I cannot give the information which the hon. Gentleman asks for, in detail, as I think he is already aware, but I hope that to-morrow or Thursday I may be able to give him in the rough some of the information he desires.

MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

Inasmuch as there is a debate bearing on this question on Thursday, will the right hon. Gentleman endeavour to give me the figures to-morrow or Wednesday?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I am quite aware for what purposes the figures are asked for, and I shall be glad to give them to-morrow if I can get them from the War Office. But as the House knows, that office is extremely hard worked just now, and I cannot be sure whether I can get them by then.