HC Deb 14 July 1953 vol 517 cc1891-2
34. Mr. Healy

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the name and age of the present chairman of the Joint Exchequer Board, which decides upon the financial relations between the Government here and that of Northern Ireland; what salary is paid him; and when the board met last.

Mr. R. A. Butler

The right hon. Lord Alness, G.B.E., is the present Chairman of the Joint Exchequer Board. Lord Alness is aged 85; he does not receive any salary as Chairman of the Board. The last meeting of the Board was held on 19th October., 1949.

Mr. Healy

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I cannot congratulate him on his expedition in this matter? Is he also aware that the Northern Ireland Government do not want a report by the Board on the matter because it would show that they pay no contribution, but, in fact, on balance, receive a large sum in order to make partition work from the Exchequer here? Is he not also aware that, in actual fact, this Joint Exchequer Board is a ghost; we hear about it, but never see it?

Mr. Butler

The main function of the Board is to deal with disagreements in matters connected with the Northern Ireland question, and it has before it the question of the imperial contribution. The fact that there has not been disagreement has made it unnecessary to hold a meeting of the Board.

Mr. J. Hudson

Is it not likely that there will be no expression from Northern Ireland on the point of disagreement which has just been referred to, as they are doing extremely well through their failure to make the contribution which they are called upon to make, and would not the right hon. Gentleman consider that the time has come when, if raids are to be made on the Scilly Isles, Ulster should be asked to pay its proper contribution to this community?

Mr. Butler

I would rather not go into the problems of Ulster at this stage. All I know is that they are having an exceptionally difficult time with their unemployment problem, and I should not like to make it more difficult for them.

Sir D. Campbell

Will the Chancellor confirm that, apart from a few very minor differences about the rates of transferred taxes, in Northern Ireland the taxation rates are the same as in other parts of the United Kingdom, and is he aware that Northern Ireland's imperial contribution aggregated over £250 million during the past 10 years?

Mr. Butler

I am aware of these facts, and also of the fact that it is the responsibility of the Minister of Finance in Northern Ireland to introduce his own Budget.