21. Colonel NEWMANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, under the agreement entered into between the Government of this country and the Provisional Government of the South of Ireland, the rates of import duty on foreign and ex-enemy goods are to remain identical for the two countries; and, if not, will he say what provision is being made to provide for the re-export from Southern Ireland to Great Britain or Northern Ireland of any of such dutiable goods?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Sir Hamar Greenwood)I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to Article 2 (i) of the Provisional Government (Transfer of Functions) Order, 1922, which provides that nothing therein shall affect the enactments passed or to be passed relating to the imposition, assessment or collection of taxes except that the administration of such enactments shall be transferred to the Provisional Government. The second part of the question does not arise.
Colonel NEWMANIs there a representative of British Customs in every Southern Irish port to see that these duties are collected?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI will send my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of the Order to which I have referred, setting out clearly, in technical language that I do not venture to alter, the exact facts of the case.