HC Deb 13 March 1934 vol 287 cc167-8
2. Captain ELLISTON

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the recent claim by the minister for posts and telegraphs in the parliament of the Irish Free State that the British Government has defaulted in respect of a sum of £53,608 due for postal services; and for what reasons such payment has been withheld?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for DOMINION AFFAIRS (Mr. Malcolm MacDonald)

The sum in question represents the liabilities of the Irish Free State to this country in respect of telephone capital annuities and the repayment by the Irish Free State of the apportioned share of Post Office pension charges. As payment was not made by the Free State authorities of the sums thus due they have been reserved in the periodical cash adjustments between the United Kingdom Post Office and the Irish Free State Post Office.