§ Mr. HORNERasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in the event of the Government of Ireland Bill becoming law, the Commissioners of Kingstown Harbour, county Dublin, will continue to be controlled by the Lords of the Treasury; and, if so, and they continue to allow vessels as at present to use the harbour without paying the dues in accordance with the published schedule, will the deficit on the working of the harbour be borne by the Irish Exchequer out of the Transferred Sum?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe Commissioners of Kingstown Harbour are appointed by the Lord Lieutenant and not by the Treasury, and I anticipate that under the Government of Ireland Bill Kingstown Harbour will become an Irish service, and the charges now paid from the Votes will be part of the Transferred Sum.
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§ Mr. HORNERasked the Secretary to the Treasury what was the amount of the deficit in the working of Kingstown Harbour, county Dublin, during the last year on which accounts of the dues and working expenses were balanced; whether, if dues in accordance with the published schedule of the Kingstown Harbour Commissioners had been charged, instead of a deficit there would have been a profit; and, if so, will he state what the approximate amount of that profit would have been if the full scheduled dues had been charged?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe net deficit on the working of Kingstown Harbour for the last year for which figures are available was about £5,300. Dues in accordance with the published schedule are charged, but masters of vessels have also the right under the Act 32, George III., cap. 35, Section 25, to pay an annual composition. I do not think I could answer the hypothetical questions contained in the remainder of the hon. Member's question.