§ MR. C. DUNCAN (Barrow-in-Furness)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether an application, dated 20th August, 1908, asking for a grant from the fund provided by Parliament for the relief of distress, has been received from the clerk of the Barrow-in-Furness distress committee; whether a further letter, dated 9th November, has been received urging attention to this matter; whether he is aware that the mayor estimates that one-seventh of the whole population of 70,000 are dependent on charity for their very existence; whether any decision has yet been arrived at; and, if not, whether, in view of the serious nature of the present distress, a speedy and favourable decision may be anticipated.
§ MR. JOHN BURNSI have been in communication with the Barrow-in-Furness Distress Committee on this subject, and have already made a payment of £500 from the grant in respect of certain work in the public park. I am now sending a further sum of £500 in respect of the wages of the unemployed engaged on a road improvement which is being carried out by the town council.