asked the Minister for Finance in respect of each of the three-year periods ended (a) 31st March, 1957 and (b) 31st March, 1960, (1) the total net current budgetary deficit, (2) the total amount collected by Special Import Levy credited to such current accounts, (3) the total of (1) and (2), (4) the total amount collected by customs duties which were imposed on articles formerly subject to levy and later freed from levy, (5) the totals of (3) and (4), (6) the amounts expended and charged to Capital Supply Services in any part of each period which were in the other period charged to current account and (7) the total of (5) and (6).
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Finance Statistics.
7.
The information requested by the Deputy, except that sought under heading (4), is available in the Tables circulated in connection with the Financial Statements for the relevant years. The information in relation to heading (4) was given in reply to Parliamentary questions on 5th May, 1959 (Official Report Vol. 174 Col. 1529) and 3rd May, 1960 (Official Report Vol. 181 Col. 432).
Will the Minister say why he is unable to give the House the totals in question?
I think the Deputy is trying to build up a fictitious case against an imaginary statement by me. I shall allow the Deputy to make his own additions.
With your permission, Sir, I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment to teach the Minister not to mislead the House as he did last Tuesday.