§ MR. W. H. SMITHasked the Secretary to the Treasury, What is the total amount granted to unions in Ireland under the Relief of Distress (Ireland) Acts, 1880, or any subsequent Act, either through the Board of Works in Ireland or the Local Government Board; and, whether it is proposed to submit a Vote to Parliament to repay to the Irish 1945 Church Fund or the National Debt Commissioners the amount applied as grants out of moneys raised on loan?
§ MR. COURTNEYThe total amount of free grants to Irish Unions has been £19,069. They were made under paragraph 3 of Section 2 of the Act 43 & 44 Vict. c. 14, whereby such grants were made a final charge on the Irish Church Fund. The financial transactions between the Church Fund and the National Debt Commissioners have nothing to do with the disposal of the receipts of the Fund. There is no intention of asking Parliament to reverse the decision arrived at by it in 1880.