§ MR. CLELAND (Glasgow, Bridgeton)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that the distress committee of the city of Glasgow have, at the present moment, only sufficient funds in hand to maintain the existing relief works for a few weeks; and whether, having regard to the growing unemployment in the shipbuilding industry, he will consider the advisability of increasing the grant of £9,600 already given to the distress committee.
I beg also to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that the Government grant to the Distress Committee of the city of Glasgow amounted to £9,600, while the funds raised locally amounted to £7,975, that the grant to the Edinburgh Distress Committee amounted to £6,595 and the funds raised locally to £586, and that the county of London raised locally a little over £100 and received a grant of £62,000; and whether, in view of the growing unemployment in the West of Scotland and the inadequacy of the Government grant, he is prepared to recommend a further grant to the Glasgow Distress Committee in proportion to the grants received by other similar bodies.
§ THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Mr. SINCLAIR,) ForfarshireI am aware of the position to which my hon. friend refers, and I have been in personal communication with the Lord Provost and Chairman of the Distress Committee. The situation is being examined by the Local Government Board, and as soon as their Report is received it shall be considered.
§ MR. WATT (Glasgow, College)Is it the case that the city is being penalised because of the magnanimity of its citizens in giving more than any other city?
[No Answer was returned.]