HC Deb 11 July 1922 vol 156 cc1069-70W
Mr. REID

asked the Prime Minister if it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to add to the personnel of the Irish Refuge Committee, to extend the scopes and powers of that Committee, and to include disbanded Irish soldiers who are prevented by the present conditions in Ireland from returning to their homes; and will he consider the desirability of referring to this Committee the cases of those who have been compelled to leave Ireland because of the loss of all their property and who may have claimed and been awarded compensation, but who are penniless and in distress?

Mr. CHURCHILL

I will consider the question of adding to the personnel of the Committee if it appears that the Committee as at present constituted is unable to deal satisfactorily with the cases brought before it. It will be open to the Committee to consider the case of any person, whether an ex-soldier or not, who is ordinarily resident in Ireland and who being unable to return to his home owing to the state of the country is therefore in urgent need. I have dealt with the last past of the question in my reply to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Chelsea (Sir S. Hoare).