§ MR. ALDENI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if he can state the number of men at present on relief works in connection with distress committees in different parts of the country, and the total amount granted out of the funds at his disposal; whether he can also state the number of men engaged upon relief works at the Alexandra Palace, together with the amount granted up to the present date; and whether he entertains any hope of being able to make further grants for this work in the near future; and, if so, upon what conditions.
§ MR. JOHN BURNSThe latest information at my disposal shows that in the week ended 25th January there were 4,075 persons for whom employment was provided by distress committees outside London upon work which was undertaken by the distress committees or to the cost of which they were contributing. The number for whom employment was provided by the Central (Unemployed) Body for London on Friday last was 1,724. The amount which up to the present time I have advanced out of the Parliamentary grant is £62,747. This is of course exclusive of any payments made in Scotland and Ireland by the Local Government Boards for those countries. There were 175 men employed by the Central Body at work in the grounds of the Alexandra Palace on Friday, and the number was to be increased to 200 to-day, whilst to-morrow thirty men will be set to work on the building. The payments out of the grant in respect of work at the palace amount to £8,403. I do not contemplate making any further payments for this purpose.