§ 8. Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current annual per capita public expenditure devoted to Northern Ireland from central funds; and how this currently compares with the per capita pro vision from public funds in the Republic of Ireland.
§ Mr. AlisonThe figure for 1981–82 is estimated to be £1,625 at 1980 survey prices. This is calculated on the basis of table 2.17 of the last White Paper on public expenditure—Cmnd. 8175—but also includes expenditure in Northern Ireland by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and is adjusted to take account of additional resources made available for the Northern Ireland electricity service. A comparable figure for other countries is net readily available.
§ Mr. HardyDoes the Minister agree that the economic condition of Northern Ireland should be regarded as of at least equal importance to its history and record of sectarian division, and that it might be of advantage in both the north and the south of Ireland if regular and full comparisons were made so chat eventually, perhaps, the advantages of co-operation or even unity might be more readily perceived?
§ Mr. AlisonI take note of the hon. Gentleman's point. The OECD no doubt tries to produce comparable figures and statistics for both countries, but there can be no compulsory basis for unifying and harmonising those statistics. We therefore have to make do with what we can get by scrutinising independently published figures.
§ Mr. Wm. RossCan the Minister give comparable figures for the Rother Valley?
§ Mr. AlisonNot without notice.