§ 101. Mr. WILLIAM THORNEasked the Minister of Labour if he can see his way clear to make a grant of money to the Reading Distress Committee in consequence of about 2,000 persons being registered at the unemployment registry; if he is aware that about 1,200 of them are adult males and a number of them are receiving no financial help at all; if he is aware that the Reading Distress Committee have been finding some useful employment for a number of them; if he is aware that the old Local Government Board made Government grants of money from time to time to various distress committees in the different parts of the country with a view to finding useful employment for both men and women who were out of work; and if he will take action in the matter?
§ Dr. ADDISONI have been asked to reply to this question. As the Distress Committee for the area referred to have already been informed, there are no funds available out of which a grant could be made to them.