§ 13. Sir W. DAVISONasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Irish Free Stats authorities are deducting Irish Income Tax from the interest payable on pre-Truce defended decree:; in the cases of claimants who have had to leave Ireland and seek refuge in this country; and whether, seeing that this is a breach of the agreement entered into by the Free State authorities with the British Government, he will make representations to the Free State Government that all such claims should be paid forthwith and without deduction of Irish Income Tax?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I am not aware of any agreement between the two Governments preventing the deduction of Income Tax in such cases; but if the persons concerned are advised that Income Tax is not payable in respect of such compensation, it is, of course, open to them to take the usual steps for recovery of the tax so deducted.