§ 62. Mr. RAWLINSONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the approximate amount of money advanced, and price of goods sold, to the Irish Free State Government since it has been established, and what the total expenditure has been by Great Britain upon Ireland since the same date?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNo money has been advanced from the Exchequer to the Provisional Government since its establishment, nor have any goods been sold; but, as I have previously explained, a considerable quantity of goods have been handed over subject to a subsequent valuation, which has not yet taken place. No expenditure has been incurred upon Ireland outside the six Northern Counties other than expenditure upon Imperial services, such as, for example, ex-service men and the Royal Irish Constabulary.
§ Mr. RAWLINSONCould the right hon. Gentleman give any idea as to the value of the goods so handed over, and was he informed that I raised this question on the Irish Vote the other night—when no Member of the Government was present—and told that a promise was made that the information should be given to me if I put a question down?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe goods handed over to the Irish Government, in overwhelming quantity, take the form of buildings and equipment, and furniture which has been used in the Government buildings by the Royal Irish Constabulary, and in the barracks by th0 military, as these forces have been disbanded or withdrawn. It would be a, matter of enormous labour at the present moment to produce a complete schedule of all these articles, with their valuation, but all the materials are in being, out of which can be produced such a schedule and valuation, which will be entered in the final account.
§ Mr. GWYNNEAre we to understand that all these buildings and munitions were handed over to the Provisional Government without a valuation being kept, and, if so, what about the buildings that have been blown up? Surely, also, particulars have been kept of the valuation of the motor cars, armoured cars, and ammunition that have been handed over?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have not got the materials at present, but a valuation has been made on the spot by the persons who have been concerned. A record is kept of the property that has been handed over, and a valuation can be made of that property. With regard to property that has been destroyed, the Irish Provisional Government take the position that compensation will be paid for the property that has been destroyed, and therefore the barracks that have been burnt down which were handed over will come into the general valuation.
§ Mr. GWYNNEHow can they be valued if they have been destroyed.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLPeople know what these barracks were. There are plans and so on.
§ Mr. RAWLINSONI did not ask any questions about barracks, but about goods supplied. Does the right hon. Gentleman tell me that no sort of estimate has been kept by the Government as to the amount of arms and the value of the arms and of the goods that have been handed over, probably in millions?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAs to the arms, strict details are kept. In the case of everything of a lethal or military nature that has been handed over, a most strict account has been kept of every article that can be taken into account.
§ Mr. GWYNNEWhat is the value?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have not the value at the present moment, but there is no difficulty in arriving at the value of these articles for disposal purposes. They will be of the same value as if they were disposed of by the Disposal Board. It will be a small value, considering the great slump in these articles. As far as the other goods are concerned, those also are accurately known.