§ Mr. HAZLETONasked the Secretary to the Treasury what has been the average annual contribution of Ireland to Imperial Services since the Union; what was the amount for last year; what was the highest amount in any one year, and the lowest amount in any one year previous to 1908–9; whether it is estimated that there will be no contribution from Ireland to Imperial Services for the current year; and, if so, what is the estimated amount of the deficit?
§ The JUNIOR LORD of the TREASURY (Mr. J. H. Whitley)The average annual contribution of Ireland to Imperial Services since 1819—the earliest date to which figures are available—has been, approximately, £3,500,000. I cannot give a precise figure, since for the period from 1819 to 1890 the calculations have only been worked out for one year in each decennial period. The amount for 1908–9 was £583,000. The highest amount in any previous year for which the figures have been worked out was £5,396,000—in 1859–60; the lowest £1,684,000—in 1899–1900. For the current year it is estimated that the revenue contributed by Ireland will be insufficient to meet the cost of purely Irish services by £1,183,000.
§ Mr. JOHN REDMONDTranslated into plain English that reply means that now Ireland is being run under the Union at a loss of over a million a year to England?
§ Mr. WHITLEYThat would appear to be the inference.
§ Mr. T. M. HEALYDoes the hon. Gentleman think that we believe it? Could he give no audit of the accounts?
§ Mr. WHITLEYThe hon. Member may certainly investigate the figures on which the answer is based.
§ Mr. JOHN DILLONMay I ask the hon. Member whether, when the Home Rule Bill in 1886 was before the House, Mr. Gladstone did not propose that Ireland should contribute under that Settlement £3,000,000 a year to the Imperial Exchequer?
§ Mr. WHITLEYI cannot accept the exact figure given by the hon. Gentleman, but it is not far from the fact.
§ Mr. W. MOOREDoes it not follow that were it not for the one million and a half from the Imperial Exchequer, which we get under the Union, there would be an annual deficit to that amount in Ireland?
§ Mr. PATRICK WHITEMay I ask the hon. Gentleman whether he has taken into account the effect of the provisions of the Finance Bill?
§ Mr. WHITLEYThese figures relate to the past, and the last paragraph of my answer was that it was estimated that the amount contributed by Ireland would be insufficient to meet the cost for purely Irish purposes by £1,183,000.
§ Mr. T. M. HEALYAre you sure that when a Tory Government come into office they will not tell a wholly different story?
§ Mr. WHITLEYI think the hon. and learned Member will understand that the Old Age Pensions will perhaps have altered the circumstances.
§ Mr. W. THORNEWould it not be much better to give them Home Rule, and let them find their own money?
§ Mr. MOOREIs the hon. Gentleman aware, that the old age pensioners in Ireland much prefer to draw their money from the British' post office?