§ MR. NANNETTI (Dublin, College Green)To ask the President of the Local Government Board what was the amount of the grant from the Unemployed Fund voted to Ireland for the work of the distress committees for the years 1906–7; what was the amount voted to each of the various distress committees who put the Unemployed Act into operation, and the amount subscribed from the rates and from voluntary subscriptions; what was the duration of employment to each applicant in each district, and the number of persons who registered themselves; and whether he can say how soon this year a grant will 1573 be made from the Unemployed Fund to the distress committees, and how much to Ireland the grant will be in relief of the want of employment in that country.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) My right hon. friend has asked me to reply to this Question. The amounts granted to Ireland were: in the year 1906–7, £11,050, and in the year 1907–8, £4,500. Some particulars of the grants to distress committees will be found in the annual Reports of the Local Government Board for those years. I have sent to the hon. Member a statement showing the amounts in detail. The Board are not in possession of the required particulars as to voluntary subscriptions, subsidies from local rates, the duration of employment of each applicant, and the number of registered applicants, but the Board will make it a condition of further grants that full information upon these points shall be furnished by the local bodies. Grants are being made from this year's Vote according as applications are received and as the necessity is shown to arise. I understand that the Treasury have not yet allocated the current year's provision between the three countries, but I may say that every application from Ireland will be dealt with upon its merits and with due regard to the relative necessities of the districts in which there is abnormal distress from want of employment.