§ MR. CLYNES (Manchester, N.E.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he has suggested certain lines for Distress Committees to follow in respect to finding employment, and made the carrying out of particular schemes a condition of granting a share of the.£200,000; whether his Department has taken any action in cases where local authorities have not put the Unemployed Act into operation; whether he is aware of the diminished voluntary subscriptions in relief of distress due to unemployment; and whether he contemplates a more speedy distribution of the Government grant, the greater part of which is still unused.
§ MR. JOHN BURNSI issued a circular to some of the Distress Committees stating the particulars which they should furnish if they desired to apply for assistance from the Grant. One of the particulars asked for was a statement of the work to be provided. The Unemployed Workmen Act required that distress committees should be appointed in certain circumstances, and appointments have been made in all such cases. I am aware that in some instances voluntary subscriptions have diminished. All applications for assistance from the Grant are dealt with as speedily as possible, and where I am satisfied that a case for assistance has been made out, a payment is made at once. We are, however, at present only in the early part of the winter, and it is important that a due amount of the Grant should be kept in hand to meet any claims that may arise during the remainder of it.