§ Mr. F. THOMSONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount of the contribution of Scotland to the Exchequer; and what are the amounts derived by Scotland from the Exchequer in respect of all the various services for which the Exchequer makes contribution, showing separately the sum for each separate service?
§ Mr. SNOWDENThe approximate figures are as follow:
£ Contribution of Scotland to the revenue of the Exchequer in 1923–4 80,000,000 Charge on the Exchequer for Scottish services in the same year 25,000,000 These figures do not include any payments received in Scotland on account of General Services, such as the National Debt, the Fighting Services, or War Pensions. The total of such general expenditure in 1923–4 may be approximately estimated at £550 millions. The difference between the £80 millions contributed by Scotland and the £25 millions paid to Scottish services, namely £55 millions, may be taken as Scotland's contribution to this total. The Scottish contribution is thus about 10 per cent. The main items in the 2540W charge of £25 millions for Scottish Services are
(1) Consolidated Fund Services. £ £ Courts of Justice, Judicial salaries 114,000 Payments to Local Taxation Account, Scotland. 1782,000 Land Settlement, Scotland 722,000 Other Services 82,000 2,700,000
(2) Supply Services. Revenue Departments: Customs and Excise 738,000 Inland Revenue 491,000 Post Office 5,000,000 Rates on Government Property 139,000 Stationery and Printing 100,000 Scottish Board of Agriculture 315,000 Police 727,000 Prisons 147,000 Universities and Colleges 220,000 Public Education (Scotland) 5,891,000 Old Age Pensions 2,613,000 Scottish Board of Health 2,229,000 Ministry of Labour 1,560,000 Relief of Unemployment 594,000 Other Services (items of less than £100,000 each) 1,536,000 22,300,000 Total £25,000,000