§ 61. Mr. BATEYasked the President of the Board of Education how much has been paid by the Treasury to the Lord Mayor's Fund; and the total amount of money paid from the Lord Mayor's Fund to distressed mining areas?
§ 59. Miss WILKINSONasked the President of the Board of Education if he can state to the nearest available date how much money has been disbursed by the Lord Mayor's Fund for distressed areas; in how many areas have arrangements now been completed for dis- 600 tributing this charity; and to how many areas and which has money so far been sent?
§ Lord E. PERCYUp to 25th January £197,127 has been disbursed to the distressed mining areas, distributed as follows:
Arrangements for distribution are either complete or are approaching completion in the above areas. A grant is being despatched immediately to Lancashire, where the distribution arrangements are also in an advanced stage. It has further been decided by the Lord Mayor to include the remaining coalfields, other than Kent, together with the iron ore fields of Cleveland and Cumberland within the area of application of the Fund, and grants will be made to those areas as soon as the necessary organization has been established. No sum has so far been paid into the Lord Mayor's Fund by the Treasury. The money voted by Parliament as a contribution to the Fund will be paid into it as required.
£ South Wales 94,250 Durham and Northumberland 78,100 Gloucester and Somerset 2,000 West Hiding 2,000 Cumberland 1,000 Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire 2,850 Various approved organizations 16,927
§ Mr. J. H. THOMASAre we to understand that, although at Christmas an appeal was made to the country pointing out the terrible distress that existed and that Parliament has been asked to grant money, no money has yet been granted? Is not the exact situation, as far as the Government are concerned, that no money has yet been paid?
§ Lord E. PERCYThe position is that some £570,000 has been subscribed; a comparatively small part of that has been disbursed and, therefore, up to now no Treasury Grant has been actually paid over to the Fund. It will be paid over as soon as required.
§ Mr. THOMASDo we understand that it is not required now? It is three weeks since Christmas. Does not the need now exist?
§ Lord E. PERCYMost certainly the right hon. Gentleman is not to understand that. As he knows quite well, we have been setting up organisations in the various areas. Those organisations have to disburse the money. The rate at which the money can be disbursed depends upon those local organisations. Those local organisations are now getting going and they are disbursing the money, but up to now they have not required the full amount of the money which has hitherto been contributetd. They are now getting to work, and the money will be disbursed.
§ Mr. BATEYWhen the Prime Minister made a statement before Christmas to the effect that the Government were going in for a pound for pound policy, were we not led to believe that the Government were prepared to pay; and do the Government not realise the urgency of having this money paid over by the Treasury as quickly as possible? In addition, I want to ask: Do the Government not realise that out of a fund which ought to be over £1,000,000, a sum of £197,000 is a disgraceful amount to pay out when miners and miners' wives and children are starving?
§ Lord E. PERCYThe answer is that the rate of disbursement of the fund depends upon the activity of the local committees in the various areas.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAIs the Noble Lord aware that the statement which he has made this afternoon may seriously discourage voluntary contributions, and, in order that this should not be the case, will he announce forthwith that the Treasury is paying over the sum which it has guaranteed?
§ Lord E. PERCYI do not think that the hon. Member realises the position at all, and I do not think that those outside this House who are subscribing to the fund, will be in the least discouraged by anything which I have said.
§ Mr. BATEYWhen can we expect this fund to pay out some more money than it has paid out up to the present; and when can we expect the Government to make its contribution?
§ Lord E. PERCYI have answered that question already, if the hon. Member had listened to my answer.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member has received an answer to his question.