HC Deb 17 April 1928 vol 216 cc25-7W
Mr. HORE-BELISHA

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, in respect of the current year, how much money has been contributed by each of the Dominions and Crown Colonies towards naval defence; what proportion of the money contributed by each of the Dominions and Crown Colonies in the years 1926 and 1927, respectively, bears in each case to their total import and export trade and per capita of their population, respectively; and how these figures compare with Great Britain's contributions under those heads?

Mr. AMERY

The contributions of the Dominions to naval defence takes the form of maintenance of their own naval forces and establishments by His Majesty's Governments in Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, New Zealand and the Union of South Africa. The amounts provided in the Estimates of the undermentioned parts of the Empire for the year 1927–28 are as follow:

  • Great Britain, £58,000,000.
  • Canada, $1,725,000.
  • Commonwealth of Australia, £5,736,000.
  • New Zealand, £667,324 (including £125,000 the first instalment of the contribution to the Singapore Base).
  • Union of South Africa, £125,479.

The proportion of expenditure on naval defence to the total import and export trade of these parts of the Empire is as follow:

  • Great Britain (1926), 2.87 per cent.; (1927), 2.83 per cent.
  • Canada (1926), .07 per cent.; (1927), .08 per cent.
  • Commonwealth of Australia (1926), 1.63 per cent.; (1927), 1.91 per cent.
  • New Zealand (1926), .60 per cent.; (1927), .70 per cent.
  • Union of South Africa (1926), .09 per cent.; (1927), .07 per cent.

Expenditure per capita of population:—

Great Britain (1926), £1 5s. 8d.; (1927), £1 5s. 6d. Canada (1926), $0.16; (1927), $0.19. Commonwealth of Australia (1926), 16s. 6d; (1927), 18s. 5d. New Zealand (1926), 8s; (1927), 9s. 4d. Union of South Africa (1926), 1s. 9d.; (1927), 1s. 6d. (European population only.)

Notes.—(a) The figures for import and export trade on which the calculations were based are preliminary totals only and are subject to revision.

(b) Where figures of population or trade for 1927 are not available, the figure for 1926 has been used.

As regards the Irish Free State, I would refer the hon. Member to Article 6 of the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty between Great Britain and Ireland (Cmd. 1560). As regards Colonies not possessing self-governing institutions the position remains as described in my reply to the hon. Gentleman's question on the 28th February, 1927, that is to say, that contributions made to Imperial Defence by certain Colonies are paid not to the Admiralty but to the War Office.