§ 68. Colonel GRETTONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amounts 1176 due by the Free State Government to the Imperial Exchequer for the financial year ending 31st March last in respect of the contribution to Imperial services under the terms of the Treaty and in respect of Excise duty collected in Southern Ireland, respectively; when he expects that these amounts respectively will be paid; and whether any adjustment is due on account of Customs collected in Southern Ireland?
§ Mr. BALDWINNo agreement has yet been reached with the Irish Free State Government as to the amount payable by that Government for Imperial services under Article 5 of the Treaty. As regards the second part of the question, the revenue accounts for 1922–23 are not yet finally complete, but the estimated amount due to the Imperial Exchequer in respect of Excise duty collected in the Irish Free State during the year is £7,900,000, while it is expected that £4,900,000 will be due from the Imperial Exchequer to the Irish Free State on account of Customs duties collected in Great Britain, a net balance of £3,000,000 on Customs and Excise together being thus due from the Irish Free State to the Imperial Exchequer. A payment on account of £1,250,000 has been made by the Irish Free State. The balance will probably be adjusted shortly.