65. Mr. F. HALLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state, on the basis of the revenue and expenditure of Ireland for the year 1912–13, what would have been the amount which would, under the provisions of the Government of Ireland Bill, have bad to be provided for Irish services by the taxpayers of the United Kingdom?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Herbert Samuel)The revenue levied in Ireland would have been more than sufficient to defray the cost of the services transferred to the control of the Irish Parliament and Executive. Taking transferred and reserved services together, the excess of expenditure over the revenue contributed by Ireland in 1912–13 was £1,493,000, as stated on page 1 of Command Paper 6844. Adding the surplus to be provided under the Bill for the Irish Parliament, which for the first three years is fixed at £500,000, the total deficit of the Government of the United Kingdom on Irish Account would have been £1,993,000, as shown on page 3 of the same Paper.
Mr. F. HALLIf the Government of Ireland Bill ever becomes law, will these charges, apart from the normal increases, be larger in future years for Irish services?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThere was a paragraph in the Paper laid on the Table when the Bill was introduced dealing with that point.
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe whole of the figures are given in the Paper I have referred to.
§ Mr. T. M. HEALYWhy does the right hon. Gentleman undertake to answer a question on finance which is addressed to the Irish Minister?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI did so by the request of the Prime Minister.