§ Mr. FIELDasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state what was the average annual amount contributed by the Treasury towards the cost of valuation in Ireland; whether the amount contributed by the Irish taxpayers is about £8,000 per annum; and whether, in view of this contribution, he will assimilate the system with that of Great Britain, in having the local authorities represented on assessment committees?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe amount contributed by the Treasury towards the cost of valuation in Ireland averages £15,400 a year, in addition to the sum paid towards the revaluation of Dublin. According to the figures given in the Return for 1907–8 of the amounts contributed by England, Scotland, and Ireland respectively to the Imperial Revenue (House of Commons 216, of 1908), Ireland contributes about 6½ per cent. of the total revenue from taxation, and the amount contributed by Irish taxpayers towards the above sum of £15,400 a year may be said, therefore, to be about £1,000. In reply to the remainder of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to a somewhat similar question put by him on 7th April.