§ * MR. KEIR HARDIE (Merthyr Tydvil)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he has received a communication from the Merthyr Borough Council, saying that owing to the practical closing of the Cyfartha Ironworks distress in the 44 borough is becoming very acute, and asking for a grant from the £300,000 fund for the relief of the unemployed; and whether the grant has been made.
§ MR. JOHN BURNSI have received a communication from the Merthyr Town Council to the effect stated, and have explained to them that payments from the grant can only be made to the distress committees set up under the Unemployed Workmen Act, 1905, in aid of expenses under that Act. I shall no doubt hear from the distress committee in due course.
§ * MR. KEIR HARDIEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the distress committee which at one time existed was abandoned on account of the expense and that the work which it did is now being done by a committee of the council? Cannot the right hon. Gentleman accept that body in lieu of the distress committee?
§ MR. JOHN BURNSI am sorry I cannot.
§ * MR. KEIR HARDIEIs the additional grant promised tied up in the same way?
§ MR. JOHN BURNSIt is not a question of the money being tied up; it will be freely and generously distributed.
§ * MR. KEIR HARDIEThe point is whether the additional £100,000 promised to the Central Fund is to be distributed through distress committers only in the same way as the first £200,000?
§ MR. JOHN BURNSI can only say that wherever representations are made to me that distress committees are not in existence, but in the opinion of the local people should be formed, I give the matter sympathetic and prompt attention. But I cannot supersede the distress committee which is the proper authority to disburse the money. I cannot hand the money to some other body which I think ought not to be sanctioned.