§ Mr. COUPERasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will state, for the financial year 1924–25, what was the amount of the contribution of Scotland to the Exchequer; and what were the amounts derived by Scotland from the Exchequer in respect of the various services for which the Exchequer made contribution, showing separately the sum for each separate service?
§ Mr. RONALD McNEILLThe approximate figures are as follow:—
£ Contribution of Scotland to the revenue of the Exchequer in 1924–25 75,000,000 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 expen- 142W diture in 1924–25 may be approximately estimated at £526 millions. The difference between the £75 millions contributed by Scotland and the £25 millions paid to Scottish services, namely, £50 millions may be taken as Scotland's contribution to this total. The Scottish contribution is thus about 9½ per cent. The main items in the 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 1,783,000 Land Settlement, Scotland 132,000 Other Services 86,000 Total 2,115,000 (2) Supply Services. Revenue Departments: Customs and Excise 754,000 Inland Revenue 490,000 Post Office 5,000,000 Rates on Government Property 128,000 Forestry Commission 135,000 Stationery and Printing 100,000 Scottish Board of Agriculture 397,000 Police 746,000 Prisons 163,000 Universities and Colleges 232,000 Public Education 5,771,000 Old Age Pensions 2,758,000 Scottish Board of Health 2,408,000 Ministry of Labour 1,490,000 Unemployment Grants 100,000 Relief of Unemployment 364,000 Other Services (items of less than £100,000 each) 1,849,000 Total 22,885,000 Grand Total £25,000,000