§ MR. CLYNES (Manchester, N.E.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that at the beginning of the present month the names of over 800 unemployed were on the Manchester Distress Committee's register, that the number is increasing, and that only about one-fourth are classed as general labourers; whether an adequate grant is to be made from the funds at his disposal in aid of this committee's farm colony, now being worked with a view to men supporting themselves and their families; and whether he contemplates making proposals which may remove the difficulties of the local authorities whose employment schemes he does not approve or cannot assist.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. John Burns,) BatterseaI am aware that there is a considerable number of persons on the register of the Manchester Distress Committee, but I have not seen the figures mentioned by my hon. friend. I have received an application from the committee for a grant for the purpose to which he refers, but I have not felt able to comply with it. The answer to the last part of the Question must be in the negative.