§ 55. Lieut. - Colonel HOWARD-BURYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present amount of Excise Duty paid in Southern I reland on beer and spirits during the past year; whether the whole amount of this has 1761 been paid to the Free State Government; and can he state approximately how much of this after 1st April will go to the Free State Government and how much to this country?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe net amount collected in the Irish Free State on account of Excise duties on beer and spirits during the 11 months ended 28th February last (the latest date up to which figures are available) is £14.630,000. In accordance with the law, these and all other Customs and Excise duties collected in the Free State during the financial year 1922–23 are being provisionally paid into the Irish Free State Exchequer, pending the necessary adjustments which have to be made in respect of duty-paid commodities removed from the Irish Free State to Great Britain and Northern Ireland and rice rersâ. The accounts relating to these adjustments are not yet complete, and I am unable to furnish the figures requested in t he last part of the question.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HOWARD-BURYCan the right hon. Gentleman say roughly what proportion of these drinks are consumed in Ireland and what proportion come to this country, so that we may know in future what the Irish Exchequer is likely to get out of it?
§ Mr. BALDWINI cannot say without notice.
§ Lieut.-Colonel NALLWill the liquor produced in Ireland pay duty to the English or the Irish Exchequer?