36. Mr. GIDEON MURRAYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether arrangements have now been concluded to strengthen the personnel of the Irish Relief Committee over which 2067 the hon. and gallant Member for Chelsea (Sir S. Hoare) presides; in what manner this is to be done; what will be the revised terms of reference and what additional funds will be allocated for the purposes of relief: and whether he will arrange that relief Sub-committees be set up in Glasgow and Liverpool and any other town in Great Britain where Irish refugees, of whatever religion, arrive or congregate?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Churchill)Yes, Sir, the arrangements of which I informed the House in reply to the question from my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Chelsea on Monday, have been completed and I am informed that a notice will be issued to-day to the Press from the offices of the Committee.
I am advised that these changes do not necessitate any revision of the Committee's terms of reference and that the funds at their disposal are adequate for their immediate needs. The House can rest assured, however, that no case in which the Committee is competent to give financial assistance will be allowed to suffer through lack of funds.
In reply to the last part of the question, the Committee are competent to deal, and do in fact deal, with cases by correspondence all over this country and in this connection are in close touch with the chief constables, and I have before me no evidence to show that this system is not successful or that the inauguration of a local Sub-committee system is necessary.
Colonel BURNIf the Committee presided over by the hon. Baronet the Member for Chelsea (Sir S. Hoarc) be able to give assistance to Irish people driven out of their houses and who are in absolute want in this country, will that Committee allot them a sum of money or give them assistance, in order to keep them alive?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThat is what the Committee is for.
Mr. MURRAYIs it not the case that the right hon. Gentleman has said over and over again that the functions of this Committee ought to be enlarged, and did not the right hon. Gentleman himself tell the House last week that the func- 2068 tions of the Committee were going to be enlarged?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIf the hon. Member had been in his place on Monday last—
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThen if the hon. Member will recall what he has read in the OFFICIAL REPORT, he will find that his question was fully answered.
Mr. MURRAYAs regards the terms of reference, the right hon. Gentleman, said that they were not to be extended, and, in view of what has happened in the House, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of extending the terms of reference?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThey have been extended.
Mr. MURRAYWill the right hon. Gentleman read the letter of the hon. Member for Worcester (Sir E. Goulding) which appeared in the "Morning Post" and the "Times" this morning?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIf the hon. Member wishes me to read that letter, he might, perhaps, cut it out, and send it to me.