HC Deb 15 May 1905 vol 146 c298
MR. O'MARA

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state what proportion the total trade imports and exports of Ireland bears to that of England as suggested by Article 7 of the Act of Union, 1800.

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

As I stated last year, in answer to the hon. Member for West Islington, no machinery exists for collecting complete statistics of goods removed from port to port within the United Kindom, and, in the absence of the requisite data, the proportion between Ireland and England cannot be stated.

MR. O'MARA

was understood to say that according to the Act of Union these statistics were to be issued every twenty years, and that the right hon. Gentleman was infringing the Act by not issuing them.

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

I can not give figures which are not available