§ 7. Sir Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average Government expenditure per head of population, excluding security expenditure, in Northern Ireland; and what information he has on the figures for Scotland, England and Wales.
§ Sir John WheelerIdentifiable general Government expenditure, excluding security expenditure, per head of population in Northern Ireland in 1992–93 was £3,983. 370 Information on the position in Scotland, England and Wales is available in the "Statistical Supplement to the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1994–95".
§ Sir Teddy TaylorAs a continuing reduction in unemployment is one of the best ways to cut high public expenditure, will the Minister look seriously and carefully at the consequences for jobs in Northern Ireland of the proposed massive increase in EC aid to the adjacent Republic of Ireland? As that gap is already very wide, what on earth is the point of extending it further? Will it not just create jobs in one place and destroy them in another?
§ Sir John WheelerI am grateful to my hon. Friend for his well-known interest in that subject. European Community funding to member states and regions in respect of the structural and cohesion funds reflects the circumstances of each case. Northern Ireland, as a region of the United Kingdom, benefits from a substantial annual transfer of resources from the Exchequer, over and above European Community funding. The Republic of Ireland is a member state of the Community and receives its funding on that basis. The Government are always conscious of the implications of EC funding arrangements.
§ Mr. CanavanDoes the Minister agree with the Taoiseach's statement yesterday that the total British Government subsidy to Northern Ireland, including security costs, is now about £3.3 billion a year? Does not that figure reveal the magnitude of the peace dividend and its potential benefit for all the people of the UK as well as of the entire island of Ireland?
§ Sir John WheelerThe subvention to Northern Ireland from Great Britain is now some £3.4 billion, but the citizens of Northern Ireland are citizens of the United Kingdom. They are entitled to equality of treatment with citizens of the United Kingdom in the services that they receive.
§ Mr. Barry PorterPursuing that point, will my right hon. Friend note that the Taoiseach also suggested yesterday that, in the highly unlikely event of the citizens of the Province deciding to leave the United Kingdom, that subvention from the UK Treasury would, in some way, be continued?
It might be sensible to disabuse the Taoiseach of that idea, if it is part of his strategy, and remind him of the comment made by Lord Fitt some years ago that if he wants us to leave the house we should not be expected to leave the purse on the mantlepiece.
§ Sir John WheelerMy hon. Friend has made his point, but, in the absence of any knowledge of what the Taoiseach said, I should not like to discuss exactly what implications his statements may have for future financial expenditure of any sort.
Mr. John D. TaylorDo the expenditure figures referred to by the Minister include the £100 million that has to be paid each year by British taxpayers for southern Irish students to come to northern Irish universities because they cannot get grants in the Republic of Ireland and are required, under European Community regulations, to be given grants by the British taxpayer?
§ Sir John WheelerAgain, I appreciate the right hon. Gentleman's concern about the movement of money in that respect, but citizens of the United Kingdom benefit from educational and other activities in the Republic of Ireland.