§ Mr. BARKERasked the Secretary for Mines the amount contributed from the mines of Monmouthshire to the welfare fund since its inception, the amount of grant made to Monmouthshire, with particulars as to its allocation, and the amount not distributed; and will he see that the fund is disbursed as expeditiously as possible?
§ Lieut.-Colonel LANE-FOXAs provided by the Mining Industry Act, 1920, Monmouthshire is joined with South Wales to form a district for the purposes of the Miners' Welfare, and no separate figures for that country are available. The figures for South Wales and Monmouthshire up to 30th June, 1923, are as follow:
1756W The grants made have been mainly in respect of institutes and recreation grounds, but include upwards of £80,000 in respect of a convalescent home to serve the whole district and smaller grants for ambulance services in colliery districts. The duty of allocating the fund is vested by law in the Miners' Welfare Committee, but if the hon. Member can give me particulars of any case in which he thinks that there has been unnecessary delay on their part, I will inquire into it. I am not myself aware of any.
£ s. d. Contributions 423,063 18 0 Four-fifths of this amount which is reserved by Statute for local schemes 338,451 2 6 Grants allocated to specific schemes 221,475 10 0 Grants paid 183,128 10 0 Net credit to district fund 155,323 2 6