§ MR. T. DAVIES (Fulham)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he can say if the £200,000 voted for provision of work for the unemployed has all been expended; if not, can he state the amount spent; and whether all the distress committees have been granted the sum they applied for and proved to his satisfaction they could utilise to advantage for the purpose the money was intended.
§ MR. JOHN BURNSAs regards England and Wales, the sum of £85,395 has actually been paid to the Central (Unemployed) Body and the distress committees; but some further payments, the precise amount of which I cannot at present state, will be made before the end of the week. I have made payments out of the grant in all cases in which the distress committee showed that there was exceptional need for assistance in meeting the cost of providing or contributing to the provision of temporary work, and a scheme of work was proposed of which I could approve. I should add that I agreed that a sum of £21,050 out of the grant should be allocated to Scotland and Ireland.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)Can the right hon. Gentleman give any information as to the allocation of the amount set apart for Ireland?
§ MR. JOHN BURNSI have no precise information, but I believe the Chief Secretary has been doing his best to see that the amount allocated has been wisely spent.