asked the Minister for Finance whether, in view of the fact that the total revenue received from customs duties for the year 1933-34 was £1,500,000 in excess of the estimated amount indicated in the explanatory balance sheet circulated on the occasion of last year's Budget, he will state what were the articles in respect of which the increase was mainly realised and the excess amount received in respect of each such article.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Revenue From Customs Duties.
It is the established practice for the Minister for Finance to deal in his annual financial statement with matters such as that referred to in the question. I do not propose to depart from that practice and, accordingly, the subject will be adequately treated in my Budget statement to-morrow.
Do I understand from the Minister that he will inform the House to-morrow what were the particular articles in respect of which this excess of £1,500,000 in customs duties accrued?
I am afraid that the Deputy will have to wait until to-morrow.
Surely the Minister understands that it is more than a budgetary matter that information should be had with regard to this matter. The duties that the Minister has put on are supposed to be for the purpose of developing industry here. It is a matter of importance, therefore, to see what particular industries are so undeveloped here that the people are having this £1,500,000 extra squeezed out of them.
I have no doubt that the information the Deputy requires will be available to-morrow.