HC Deb 11 July 1939 vol 349 cc2050-1
46. Mr. Creech Jones

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of the anticipated annual net contribution by the Government of Northern Ireland to the British Exchequer at the time that Government was established; and what net contribution was made to the British Exchequer by the Government of Northern Ireland for the financial year 1938–39, taking into account all direct and indirect grants, subsidies, and concessions, such as remission of land purchase annuities, or, alternatively, what was the net contribution by the British Exchequer for the period in question to the Government of Northern Ireland?

Sir J. Simon

The financial relations between the Government of Northern Ireland and the Government of the United Kingdom were laid down by Sections 20–36 of the Government of Ireland Act, 1920, and the Irish Free State (Consequential Provisions) Act, 1922, in particular paragraph 4 of Schedule I. I am not aware that any estimate was given of the net contribution by Northern Ireland. In reply to the second part of the question, the Joint Exchequer Board is not yet in a position to determine the final figures for 1938–39. The relevant figures provisionally fixed are as follows: The imperial contribution to be made by Northern Ireland is £1,000,000. The amount of the land purchase annuities retained by the Northern Ireland Government under Section 26 of the Government of Ireland Act, 1920, is £655,600. The payment to Northern Ireland in respect of Unemployment Insurance is £1,787,000.