§ 63. Mr. Buchananasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the Imperial contribution fixed for Northern Ireland as a result of the Government of Ireland Act, 1920; what amounts Northern Ireland has contributed for the past 18 years ended March last; and whether he can also give the amounts of grants which have been paid from the Exchequer to Northern Ireland for special police, unemployment insurance, and provision of buildings?
§ Sir J. SimonUnder Section 23 of the Government of Ireland Act, 1920, and the Irish Free State (Consequential Provisions) Act, 1922, Schedule 1, paragraph 4, the proportion of Imperial liabilities and expenditure to be contributed by Northern Ireland is such as the Joint Exchequer Board, having regard to 3299 the relative taxable capacities of Northern Ireland and of Great Britain and Ireland, determine to be just. The principles adopted for determining the relative taxable capacities referred to have been those recommended by the Special Arbitration Committee (Command Papers 2072 of 1924 and 2389 of 1925). In reply to the second and third parts of the question, the Northern Ireland contribution in respect of the financial years 1935, 1936 and 1937 has amounted to £365,000, £900,000 and £1,100,000 (provisional) respectively, and the payments to Northern Ireland during the same years have amounted to £762,500, £937,000 and £1,607,000 (provisional). As regards the figures for earlier years I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 6th May, 1937, of which I am sending him a copy.