§ 92 and 93. Sir JOHN BUTCHERasked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he is aware that the present scheme for granting out-of-work donations in Ireland has led to widely-extended idleness and refusal to work, to great scarcity of labour for agricultural and other purposes, and to a waste of public money; and whether he will at once take steps to stop this waste of public money and to hand over the money so saved to the Irish Government to be expended on useful purposes; and (2) whether he proposes to institute an inquiry into the abuses that have arisen in Ireland in relation to the scheme for granting out-of-work donations and the administration of such scheme; and what steps he proposes to take to check these abuses?
§ Mr. WARDLEVarious matters arising out of the working of the donation scheme in Ireland have been the subject of inquiry by the Ministry of Labour, and, in consequence of the reports that have beet, received, the Government have decided that the conditions in Ireland following on the cessation of hostilities vary so materially from those existing in Great Britain that it is necessary to limit the application of the scheme in Ireland in the future to demobolised members of His Majesty's Forces, insured trades, and certain trades to be certified by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland as those in which a substantial account of unemployment has been directly caused by the cessation of hostilities. It is further intended to make an immediate interim Grant from the Exchequer to enable works of general utility and of a reconstructive character to be undertaken in order to provide employment for demobilised members of His Majesty's Forces in Ireland.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERWill inquiries be made in cases where this out-of-work donation has already been wrongly given and will steps be taken to stop it in those cases at once?
§ Sir M. DOCKRELLIs a commission given by the Government to the officials who administer these donations?
§ Mr. WARDLENot that I am aware of, and if my hon. Friend has any information on the point and sends it on to me I will make further inquiries.
§ Mr. DEVLINCan the hon. Gentleman say why Ireland is differentiated against in this case?
§ Sir J. BUTCHERWould my hon. Friend answer my question as to whether these donations if improperly given, will be at once stopped?
§ Mr. WARDLEI must ask for notice of that question.
§ Mr. DEVLINIs the reason why this injustice is to be done to Ireland because in England and in Scotland these out-of-work grants wore given by the Government to corrupt the electors at the last General Election?