HL Deb 18 January 1972 vol 327 cc56-7WA
LORD CLIFFORD OF CHUDLEIGH

asked Her Majesty's Government:

  1. 1. What increases have taken place, since their Answer of November 18, 1970, to the gross £375 million which the United Kingdom Treasury contributes to Northern Ireland;
  2. 2. What further increases are proposed;
  3. 3. How does this compare with a similar sized region like Devon and Cornwall;
  4. 4. How much is collected back from both these regions bearing in mind that some companies pay their taxes centrally.

EARL JELLICOE

In 1971–72 expenditure from the Northern Ireland Exchequer is estimated to be £423 million. Of this £269 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. £84 million revenue is expected to be raised directly by the Northern Ireland Government.

To help the Northern Ireland Government to maintain parity of services with the rest of the United Kingdom the following payments are made to the Northern Ireland Exchequer:

£ million
Payments under the Health Service Agreement 20
Social Services Payments (under the Finance Act 1971) 37
Payments (under the Finance Act 1967) 11
Agricultural remoteness grant (direct from M.A.F.F. votes) 2

In addition, Northern Ireland farmers receive certain grant and subsidy payments (estimated at about £30 million in 1971–72) from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

£22 million is expected to be paid from the Great Britain National Insurance Fund to that of Northern Ireland.

The Northern Ireland Government also borrows some of its capital requirements from the National Loans Fund; in 1971–72 the estimate is about £70 million.

Separate financial accounts are not available for Devon and Cornwall.