§ Mr. STEWARTasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, since the union of the British and Irish Exchequers in 1817, any Irishman has ever been called upon to pay heavier taxation than an inhabitant of Great Britain of similar income; whether all taxation has run concurrently in both countries during that period; and, if not, will he state what taxes have been charged in Great Britain at a higher rate than in Ireland, and what taxes, if any, have been charged in Ireland and not in Great Britain?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI am afraid this information is not available in a form suitable to an answer to Parliamentary question, but I may perhaps draw the hon. Member's attention to the Return moved for by the hon. Member for Salisbury on the 15th ultimo, which is now in course of preparation.
§ Mr. STEWARTasked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the total amount expended in Army and Navy Votes since the union of the British and Irish Exchequers in 1817; and will he also state the total amount received during the same period from Ireland in excess of moneys expended there, and the proportion that such payments bear towards the total cost of the Army and Navy Votes during the whole period?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe information is not available in the form suggested by the hon. Member. I may, however, point out that the expenditure on Army and Navy Services will be found for the years to 31st March, 1869, on pages 148–151 of Part II. of House of Commons Return No. 366, I., of 1869, and thereafter in the annual Finance Accounts. As regards the remainder of the question, I may refer the hon. Member to House of Commons Return No. 313, of 1894, and similar Returns for succeeding years, the latest being 221 of 1911.
§ Mr. STEWARTWill the hon. Gentleman, for the information of Members, produce some sort of balance-sheet about the old partnership before it goes into liquidation next month, to see how the old partnership worked?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI will consider if I can obtain any figures.