asked the Taoiseach how the figure of £800 million, which he stated recently is the amount of annual subsidy contributed by the British Government to the upkeep of the Six Counties, is compiled; and the source of this figure.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Six Counties Subsidy.
6.
In a written ministerial reply to a question in the British House of Commons on 1 August 1978, the net cost to the British taxpayers of all Government services provided for in Northern Ireland during 1977-78 was estimated at £1,020 million. This figure, however, includes a special payment of £250 million to cover the write-off of certain Northern Ireland Electricity Service borrowings. The deduction of this once-off payment gives the total of £800 million, approximately, which I mentioned.
I take it this does not include the cost of the occupation forces? Am I right in thinking that it does not include moneys paid in compensation for damages occasioned by the troubles in the Six Counties?
I have not the breakdown of these figures but I should imagine that the figure would include the cost of British forces serving in Northern Ireland.
I could not hear the answer very well.
I said I had not got the breakdown in the written answer to which I referred the Deputy, given in the House of Commons on 1 August. That breakdown is not there. I am assuming that the figure for maintenance of British troops in Northern Ireland would be part of the figure I quoted.
Could I suggest to the Taoiseach that the figure would in fact include the cost of compensation and the extra cost of stationing these troops in Northern Ireland but not the basic cost? May I ask if he is aware of discrepancies between the figures published in London and in Northern Ireland in respect of the Northern Ireland account and whether he can give any information about these discrepancies?
We also have figures ourselves which are estimated figures which approximate very closely to the figure of £1,020 million to which I have referred which is also an estimated figure. So, I am talking about estimations——
There are discrepancies I think.
There are some, yes.
May I ask the Taoiseach whether in those figures, the £850 million or the £1,050 million as indicated by the Taoiseach, due deductions have been made for the revenue that would have been collected within the Six Counties? Secondly, I ask the Taoiseach whether he has any comment to make on a recent statement by a spokesman of the Labour Government to the effect that they were prepared to spend £2,000 million per year in the next five years in the Six Counties.
That is a separate question.
I have no comment to make on that. In reply to the first part of the Deputy's supplementary question, the figure I have given is a net figure. It does not take account of payments made by Northern Ireland residents by way of taxation and otherwise to the British Exchequer which would amount to something short, I believe, of £1,000 million.