§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the functions of the Joint Exchequer Board; how many times it has met since established in 1920; when it last met; whether any member is paid a salary and, if so, of what amount.]
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, the Joint Exchequer Board was established by the Government of Ireland Act 1920. Its functions are: first, to determine each year the share of taxes, raised by the United Kingdom Government that is properly attributable to Northern Ireland; secondly, to determine the proportion of Defence and other Imperial expenditure to be contributed by Northern Ireland; thirdly, to determine any other matters referred to it by the Treasury and the Northern Ireland Ministry of Finance in connection with 121 Northern Ireland revenue or expenditure. The Board has met 55 times since it was established. The last meeting was on April 30, 1968. Membership of the Board is not currently a salaried post.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, may I thank my noble friend for that Answer, and also ask him this? Would it not be possible to use the third function of this Board to see that the very heavy subsidy which is given by this country to Northern Ireland shall be used in spheres which do not practise religious discrimination or deny civil rights?
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, if the noble Lord puts his question to me in that form, I have to give him a negative answer.