89. Mr. PETOasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any information as to the estimated revenue and expenditure of the Free State Government and the amount of compensation for murder, arson, and damage by irregular forces operating in Southern Ireland since the setting up of the Free State Government; and whether he can assure the House that no part of such compensation or of any deficit in the Free State Government revenue will, by loan, credit advance, or any 'other means become a charge on the revenue of Great Britain?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no information with regard to the first two parts of the question, other than that which can be obtained from the published proceedings of the Parliament of the Irish 244 Free State. With regard to the last part of the question, I must point out that no charges can be placed upon the Consolidated Fund except by the Imperial Parliament; but I may add that no suggestion has been made either directly or indirectly by the Government of the Free State that responsibility in respect of any such charges as the hon. Member specifies should be assumed by His Majesty's Government.
Mr. PETOCan we have an assurance that at some future date the Government will not consider making a grant to defray the deficit of the Irish Free State Government
§ Mr. BUCHANANHas not the time arrived when, instead of stirring up strife, hon. Members should try to bring peace?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI have seen a little of that on both sides.