HC Deb 07 August 1905 vol 151 cc380-2
MR. BOLAND (Kerry, S.)

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the announcement of the Board of Trade that they have no objection to separate Returns of Irish commerce being issued, he can now see his way to annul the Treasury † See page 63. Minute of 1823 which provides that Irish commerce shall be treated as coasting trade, and require the Customs to furnish separate particulars of imports and exports to and from Ireland, as is done in the case of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, and all other parts of the Empire.

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN,) Worcestershire, E.

My hon. friend the Secretary to the Board of Trade stated in reply to a Question of the hon. Member on July 20th † that the Irish Board of Agriculture had under consideration the question of compiling statistics of the trade between Great Britain and Ireland, but that referred only to information which would be obtainable under the existing system. I cannot agree to the proposal of the hon. Member, as in my opinion no sufficient advantage would be gained to counterbalance the increased expenditure and the interference with trade which such a change would involve.

MR. THOMAS O'DONNELL (Kerry, W.)

Then the right hon. Gentleman refuses.

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

I decline respectfully to annul the Treasury Minute of 1823, but if a further Question is put down I will consider whether it is possible to afford any more statistical information without a further interference with trade or an additional expenditure of public money.

MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)

Do you not admit that Ireland would derive some advantage if the exact imports and exports were known?

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

I have had a good many discussions with the hon. Gentleman both in and out the House with regard to interference by the Government with trade. He always urged that we should interfere as little as possible, and he has not infrequently denounced us for interfering. Now he asks us to do a thing which would † See (4) Debates, cxlix., 1401. involve a considerable interference with trade.

MR. LOUGH

I altogether deny that. I say it would assist trade.