§
Motion made, and Question proposed,
That a Supplementary sum, not exceeding £10, be granted to His Majesty, to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st clay of March, 1922, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Local Government Board, Ireland, including Grants and other Expenses in connection with Housing, Grants to Local Authorities, etc., sundry Grants-in-Aid; and the Cost of certain Services arising out of the War.
§ Sir H. GREENWOODIt is almost with regret that I rise to propose the last supplementary Estimate, because the 2212 Committee has treated me so very fairly. In this case I am pleased to say that again I am not asking for any additional money. I am asking for the approval of the Committee to pay out of the original grant already voted last year a sum of £6,000, which is set out in detail at the bottom of page 40 of the Supplementary Estimate. This is a grant of £6,000 in aid of structural repairs which are urgently required at the Peamount Sanatorium, which has been a great blessing to Ireland. It was founded by the Marchioness of Aberdeen, and it is a great tribute to her work in the cause of Ireland. This sanatorium is one for tubercular patients including a great number of ex-service men, and it is in danger of having to limit its activities because of the non-repair of certain necessary structural parts. Out of the total Vote originally granted I am asking the Committee to vote me this token Vote of £10, although in fact it means paying £6,000 for the necessary structural repairs of this splendid sanatorium. I should have thought with that explanation that a Debate would have been impossible, but if there is any point to be cleared up I shall be glad to reply.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYThis is a very admirable philanthropic service, and I glad that the necessary steps are being taken to keep this admirable institution in order. I wish to ask for an explanation of these savings. I would not raise any objection even if this £6,000 went straight into the pockets of the Provisional Government of Southern Ireland, but I want to be clear whether it is new money or not. I see that there are anticipated savings on other Sub-heads of £5,990. Under ordinary circumstances these savings would be paid back into the Exchequer. Therefore when the right hon. Gentleman says the savings amount to £5,990 and all he wants is another £10, and that it is quite in order to hand that money over to the Peamount Sanatorium, he is really taking money for this purpose which should come back to the Exchequer, and which has been taken off the original Estimate. Therefore this is really a payment of £6,000, and I do not see why the right hon. Gentleman should attempt to ride off by saying that this is not new money except to the extent of a matter of £10. At any rate, this is money that 2213 ought to go back to the Exchequer, and money that we do not save we spend, and therefore this is money spent. Let us face the facts. That being the case, I would like to ask a question about these ex-service men who are mentioned in paragraph R1 at the bottom of page 40. I would like also to know what is going to happen next year to the Peamount institution. It is no good spending £6,000 on the Peamount Sanatorium if it is going to be shut up. I should think the Provisional Government would probably carry on this institution. I would like to ask whether this institution is in Southern or in Northern Ireland.
§ Sir H. GREENWOODIn Southern Ireland.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYHas it taken patients from Northern Ireland, and, if so, will it take them again in the future. I hope it will, and I cannot imagine an institution of this kind being closed to any cases of consumption that could benefit from treatment therein. I would like to know what is being done in regard to the ex-service men who are there as the patients of the Ministry of Pensions. Their position in Ireland is not very pleasant, and it is worse than those in England to-day. I want to know if the right hon. Gentleman has thought of this matter, and has he entered into any arrangement?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThis question has been subject of the most serious consultations and conferences with representatives of the Provisional Government in Ireland, and I do not think these men will suffer under the new régime. In any event, I agree that they must for all time he the first consideration of this House, because they benefit very much from this sanatorium, which, but for this Vote, would be in danger of closing some part of its activities. It is true that, but for this proposal, the anticipated savings would come back to the Exchequer. That is a fact, but my point is that this is not new money, but money which has already been voted.
§ Question put, and agreed to