§ Major BOYD-CARPENTER(by Private Notice) asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can give the House the Terms of Reference to the Irish Distress Committee 534 presided over by the hon. and gallant Member for Chelsea?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODYes, Sir. The Terms of Reference are as follow:
- (1) To investigate applications by or on behalf of persons ordinarily resident in Ireland who for reasons of personal safety have come to Great Britain and are represented to be in urgent need of assistance.
- (2) To furnish the Irish Office with reports on the adequacy or otherwise of their reasons for leaving their homes, and so to enable the Irish Office to make detailed representations to the Provisional Government to secure their return to their homes at the earliest possible moment.
- (3) To authorise the Irish Office in cases of proved necessity to advance money sufficient for immediate needs.
- (4) To advise the Government from time to time on any further steps which may, owing to the further development of the situation, be required to deal with the problem of refugees from Ireland.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ASHLEYWhat sum of money has been placed at the disposal of this Committee?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe Leader of the House has already said about £10,000.
§ Lieut. - Colonel ASHLEYIs not £10,000 a miserably inadequate sum to allocate in this matter, in which there are hundreds of cases to be dealt with?
§ Lord R. CECILWill this Committee have power to make any recommendations for permanent compensation or only to alleviate temporary difficulties?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODTo alleviate temporary difficulties. It has power to make further recommendations of any kind.
§ Sir H. GREENWOODAll correspondence is to be addressed to the Office of the Committee at 9, Queen Anne's Gate, which is a few doors away from the Irish Office.