asked the Minister for Finance if he will state in relation to the charge on the Central Fund for the service of debt (i) the average annual amount so charged over the period from 1st April, 1932, to 31st March, 1939 (inclusive); (ii) the corresponding figure for the period from 1st April, 1939, to 31st March, 1948 (inclusive); (iii) the actual charge for the year ended the 31st March, 1948; (iv) the actual charge for the year ended the 31st March, 1949; (v) the actual charge for the year ended 31st March, 1950, and (vi) the estimated charge for the year ending 31st March, 1951.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Central Fund Charges.
The information requested by the Deputy for the financial years from 1st April, 1932, to 31st March, 1949, is to be found in the account of the public debt services included in the finance accounts published for each of those years.
The particulars for the financial years 1949-50 and 1950-51 are contained in Part III of the estimates of receipts and expenditure for the year ending 31st March, 1951, recently presented to the Dáil.
Is it not incorrect to say that in the financial accounts for the periods referred to in the question there is an average taken? Surely the Parliamentary Secretary's reply is incorrect. I have asked for the average amount.
There are two negatives in the question.
I have asked for the average annual amount and I should like to have the Parliamentary Secretary's answer. That is the point of the question.
No. 10.
I beg your pardon. Surely I am entitled to ask the Parliamentary Secretary to give me a correct answer. I have asked for the average annual amount charged for the period dealt with, from 1st April, 1932, to the 31st March, 1939, inclusive, for the service of debt. I have not got an answer. The House has been misinformed.
The Deputy is being referred to where he will find it.
Surely if a question is put to the Minister or to the Parliamentary Secretary he has to answer it to the best of his ability.
He has done that.
He has not done that. He is spending £107,000,000 this year and he cannot answer that question.
To the best of his ability.
He has more ability than the Deputy.