§ SIR THOMAS ESMONDE (Wexford, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord - Lieutenant of Ireland if any interest is obtained by the various Government Departments and Boards in Ireland on the credit balances of their accounts; if he will grant a Return showing the credit balances of each of the Government Departments and Boards in Ireland on March 31st, 1905; and if he will make arrangements to have tenders invited annually from the Irish banks for the keeping of the accounts of these various public Boards and Departments in future.
§ MR. VICTOR CAVENDISHThe accounts of all the Irish voted services are kept by the Paymaster - General in Dublin. Separate balances are not kept by the various Departments. The Paymaster-General has a consolidated account at the Bank of Ireland, which is drawn upon for payments on behalf of all the Departments. This is a current account, which yields no interest, and the balance is maintained as low as is consistent with the requirements of the services. Apart from voted moneys, certain Irish Departments have other funds under their control, notably the Land Commission, the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction, and the Congested Districts Board. I understand that it is the practice of the Land Commission to place their available balances on interest-bearing deposit. The Department of Agriculture has most of its funds in vested, and the rest are placed on deposit so far as not required for current use. The practice of the Congested Districts Board is the same. A Return of all the funds under control of Irish Departments and the disposition of those funds would take time to prepare. The Government would not be willing to adopt a system of annual tenders for the keeping of the Departmental accounts.
§ SIR THOMAS ESMONDEIs there any objection to the Return I asked for? I know it may take some time.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN, Worcestershire, E.)I should like to look 1177 into that matter before definitely answering. The hon. Member and others have already brought certain matters to my notice with, I hope, satisfactory results. I should, therefore, like to make further inquiries, which will of necessity take some time.