§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W., and Sligo, S.)asked the noble Lord the Chancellor of the Exchequer If it was the intention of the Government to submit a Supplementary Estimate for a grant in aid of the Royal Hospital at Belfast; and, if so, whether the amount of the Vote would be the amount incurred by the treatment of persons injured during the riots?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Lord RANDOLPH CHURCHILL) (Paddington, S.)The hon. Member will recollect that what I stated was this—that if the Irish Authorities should be of opinion that the grant should be allowed, I would bring the matter before the Treasury. The Treasury would be prepared to give it every consideration. But, so far, the Irish Office has made no communication on the subject.
§ MR. SEXTONWill the noble Lord have any objection to communicate with the Irish Office?
§ LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILLI think the hon. Member is a far greater adept in the art of setting the Irish Office in motion than I am.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOE IRELAND (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.)confessed he had heard the statement of his noble Friend with considerable satisfaction, because it held out some hope of liberal treatment on the part of the Treasury, which would be very agreeable to him in the future. He would look into the matter again, in order to see what course he could recommend to the Treasury. But he 187 should like to say that, as at present advised, it seemed to him not right to recommend the Treasury to submit a Vote to the House to make a grant in aid of the Royal Hospital in Belfast for treating the inhabitants of Belfast, who had themselves been presumably concerned in the riots, and had been admitted into the hospital in consequence. There might be cases in which some grant might be made to the Royal Hospital in Belfast if the constabulary and military had been treated in that hospital. He would endeavour to make himself acquainted with the facts, and if he could see his way to do so, he would make a recommendation to that effect.