Isle of Man (Customs) Bill.

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at on 27 July 1926.

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Photo of Mr John Scurr Mr John Scurr , Stepney Mile End

A short while back was published the Report of a Committee of the Privy Council on the question of Contributions to Imperial Funds from the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, and Man, and on page 30 of that Report, paragraph 59 states: The Isle of Man now makes a perpetual payment of £10,000 per annum to the Exchequer under the provisions of the Act of 1866. Where this payment was fixed with regard to the then existing yield of the Insular customs duties or in the light of the cost to the Exchequer of Imperial Services, there can be no doubt that it is now disproportionately small. We recommend, therefore, that Parliament should be asked to amend the Act by increasing the permanent contribution of the Island to £50,000, which appears to us to be the smallest permanent contribution to the Exchequer which, in existing circumstances, the Isle of Man could properly make.We recommend that the additional payment of £50,000 necessary to make up a total contribution of £100,000 should be made for a period of 50 years, and that it should include the annual payment of £20,000 which the Island now makes. There was a great disappointment at the Tynwald Conference regarding the figures which the Treasury put forward, and certain allegations were made against Mr. Hawtrey, and I really think the Government ought to let us know whether this Bill affects that matter and whether it means that there is to be an increased contribution from the Isle of Man or whether any arrangement has been made in regard to it.