§ 56. Mr. HEALYasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he has any statement to make with regard to the figures recently presented on behalf of the Minister of Finance in the Parliament of Northern Ireland as to the financial contribution of Northern Ireland during the years 1922–23 and 1923–24?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. William Graham)My attention has been called to the statement mentioned, which covers a somewhat different period from that dealt with in my answer to the hon. Member of the 6th May. The discrepancy in respect of the year 1923–24, to which reference was made on behalf of the Minister of Finance, appears to be due, as suggested, to the fact that certain grants issued from the British Exchequer on the 31st March last were brought to account in the Northern Irish Exchequer in the current financial year.
§ Mr. HEALYHas the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been called to the Northern Ireland Special Arbitration Committee, which reported on the 4th September last that "the contribution for 1922–1923 was revised and stands at six millions"?
§ Mr. FERGUSONIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the Free State is bankrupt?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member had better put a question down.