§ MR. KEIR HARDIE (Merthyr Tydvil)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in framing the Supplementary Estimate for £100,000 towards the central fund for the relief of distress due to unemployment, he will leave himself free to make grants to approved agencies for dealing with unemployment, especially in connection with skilled artizans and women, in addition to distress committees.
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEThe sum of £200,000 already voted was voted specifically in aid of expenses under the Unemployed Workmen Act, and it is now proposed that the further £100,000 should be voted as a supplement to that grant. The £100,000 will, therefore, be appropriated to the same purposes as the former grant, and will not be available for application in the manner suggested by the hon. Member.
§ MR. KEIR HARDIEasked whether the right hon. Gentleman would revise the form of the Estimate so as to widen the scope in which the money was to be applied, seeing that there were numerous applications for grants from areas in which no distress committees existed?
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEI should like to have notice of that Question.