HC Deb 09 March 1888 vol 323 cc705-6
MR. J. E. ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to a letter in The Freeman's Journal of the 8th of March from the Rev. M. O'Donohue, parish priest, with respect to the great destitution in the Arran Isles; and, what steps are the Government taking with a view of relieving the exceptional distress there?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)

I know nothing about the letter to which the hon. Member refers; but I have taken care to make myself acquainted with the condition of the Arran Islands. The duty of relieving destitution rests with the Local Authorities, and not with the Government; nor should it be undertaken under any circumstances by the Government, except with the greatest caution. I propose, however, to supply, under careful supervision, seed potatoes to those who really require it in the Islands; and as this, if done at all, must be done without delay, I have ventured, with the sanction of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to anticipate the approval of Parliament. I trust that the course will not be of ultimate injury to the Islanders; although anyone who studios the history of destitution in the West of Ireland may well doubt whether the charity, public or private, by which it has been sought to relieve it, has produced, on the whole, a balance of good or of evil.

MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)

asked, if the Chief Secretary would inform the House, when applying for this money, as to how many thousands of pounds in rent those people on the Arran Islands had paid within the last five years?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

said, he had not as yet consulted with his right hon. Friend as to the exact form in which Parliament would be asked for this grant. He did not think the information required was necessary.

DR. CAMERON (Glasgow, College)

asked, if the right hon. Gentleman would apply the same principle to the destitution of the people of the Western Hebrides? Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman would consult with the Lord Advocate upon the point.

[No reply.]