§ 58. Colonel GRETTONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the arrears of Income Tax left uncollected in Ireland at the time the Provisional Government was set up in the Free 2241 State; and how much of the arrears have been collected and paid to the British Government?
Mr. GRAHAMI regret that the conditions prevailing before the transfer to the, Provisional Government of the Irish Free State of functions in respect of Income Tax and Super-tax precluded any reliable ascertainment of the arrears outstanding on the 31st March, 1922. As regards the second part of the question, I would remind the hon. and gallant Member that under the Provisional Government (Transfer of Functions) Order, 1922, dated the 1st April, 1922, the proceeds of all taxes leviable in Southern Ireland were, as from the 1st April, 1922, payable into the Exchequer of the Provisional Government.
§ Colonel GRETTONWere not the arrears uncollected approximately £5,000,000, and was not the effect of the Order referred to to give a subsidy of that amount to the new Government in Southern Ireland?
Mr. GRAHAMNo, the Departments simply took over everything as it stood at that date—liabilities on the one side and assets on the other.
§ Mr. FERGUSONWhat hope can there be of getting anything out of an enemy in a bankrupt state?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is a very improper remark—
§ Mr. FERGUSONI withdraw nothing.
§ Mr. SPEAKERWill the hon. Member allow me to complete my sentence? That was an improper remark to make about one of the Dominions.