HL Deb 21 December 1972 vol 337 cc1265-6WA
LORD CLIFFORD OF CHUDLEIGH

asked Her Majesty's Government:

On the basis of their Answers of November 18, 1970, and January 18, 1972:

  1. (1) What increases in the gross amounts mentioned in the Answers to those Questions the United Kingdom Treasury has made in the last year in Northern Ireland;
  2. (2) What further increases are proposed.

THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (EARL JELLICOE)

In 1972–73 expenditure from the Northern Ireland Exchequer is estimated to be £495 million. Of this, £276 million is expected to be met by a payment to the Northern Ireland Exchequer in respect of taxes paid by the inhabitants of Northern Ireland but collected by United Kingdom revenue departments (Reserved Tax Revenue) and £85 million is expected to be raised directly by the Northern Ireland Government (Transferred Tax and Non-Tax Revenue).

The Northern Ireland (Financial Provisions) Act 1972 provides for the Northern Ireland Exchequer to receive a grant-in-aid. In 1972–73 this is likely to be of the order of £60 million. The following payments are made in Northern Ireland to help maintain parity of services with the rest of the United Kingdom:

£ million
Payments under the Health Service Agreement 25
Social Services Payments (under the Finance Act 1971) 42
Payment under the Finance Act 1967: Additional Selective Employment Premiums 11
Agricultural Remoteness Grant 2
The other grant and subsidy payments received by Northern Ireland farmers from the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food are estimated at about £26 million in 1972–73. Twenty-eight million pounds is expected to be paid from the Great Britain National Insurance Fund to that of Northern Ireland and £100 million borrowed by the Northern Ireland Government from the National Loans Fund.