HC Deb 30 March 1925 vol 182 cc924-5
26. Lieut.-Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALL

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what were the reasons which led to the arrangements made by the late Government for the making of a grant of £900,000 to the Irish Free State; for what purpose has the money been utilised by the Free State Government; and if he will arrange for papers giving details of the transaction to be laid upon the Table?

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE

In reply to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the detailed reply which my right hon. Friend gave on 16th December last to a question addressed to him by the hon. Member for Central Portsmouth (Sir H. Foster), of which I am sending him a copy; and, in reply to the second part, I would refer him to the reply which my right hon. Friend, gave on 16th February to a question addressed to him by the hon. Member for East Cardiff (Sir C. Kinloch-Cooke). In reply to the third part, I do not think there is anything I can usefully add to the full information which has already been given to the House on this subject.

Sir F. HALL

With regard to the first part of my question, is the hon. Gentleman aware that the reply to which he has drawn my attention did not give any real answer to the first part of this question?

Mr. J. H. THOMAS

Could the hon. Gentleman say whether, in connection with all these arrangements with the Irish Free State, the late Government departed in any way from the original agreement?

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE

No, Sir; this payment by the late Government follows on precisely similar payments made by previous Governments. There has been no alteration of policy, but complete continuity, ever since the Wood Renton Commission started to operate, in the settlements come to with regard to the payments to be made by this country.

Sir F. HALL

Does the hon. Gentleman recognise that this £900,000 has been spent by the Government and we have got nothing at all in return for it?

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE

I think that if my hon. Friend will read the reply—it was a very long one—which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave, he will see that this is a final discharge of the account which we owe in respect of past years, and has been agreed to by both sides.