HC Deb 06 May 1937 vol 323 cc1237-8
50. Mr. MacLaren

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount paid by way of contributions by the Government of Northern Ireland to the Treasury in each year since 1922–23 to 1936–37; and the amount paid by way of grants from the Exchequer to the Government of Northern Ireland in the same years?

Mr. Chamberlain

As the answer is in tabular form, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

The following table shows in column r the Imperial Contribution paid by the Government of Northern Ireland.

Column 2 shows the payments from the Exchequer to Northern Ireland (a) under the Unemployment Insurance Agreements; (b) as special grants for Special Constabulary, Malicious Injuries, etc., in the initial years of separation; (c) for buildings under Sections 24 and 34 of the Government of Ireland Act, 1920.

Column 2 does not include the amount, approximately £656,000 a year, collected from tenants and retained by the Government of Northern Ireland under Section 26 of the Government of Ireland Act, 1920, in respect of land purchase annuities under agreements entered into before the passing of the Act. (An equivalent sum is paid as a nonrecoverable charge out of the Imperial Exchequer to the National Debt Commissioners.)

— Northern Ireland Contribution. Payments to Northern Ireland.
(1) (2)
£ £
1922–23 6,685,600 3,994,200
1923–24 4,517,900 3,321,100
1924–25 3,175,000 1,420,800
1925–26 2,275,000 2,073,700
1926–27 1,350,000 1,012,300
1927–28 1,450,000 421,300
1928–29 1,175,000 667,100
1929–30 855,000 588,200
1930–31 545,000 827,400
1931–32 298,000 474,900
1932–33 75,000 182,800
1933–34 76,000 43,700
1934–35 24,000 500
1935–36 (a) 365,000 753,600
1936–37 (b) 500,000 1,040,200
(a)Anticipated.
(b)This was the provisional figure at the beginning of the year. The provisional out-turn shows that the amount available for Imperial Contribution and surplus was £880,000 instead of £503,000 as originally estimated.