§ Mr. DEVLINasked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the statement made by the superintendent of works to the Belfast Corporation on the 9th instant to the effect that the register of men seeking employment was so congested that it would take him some months before he could get through the list, and that he would be unable to register any more men for some time to come; and whether, in view of the continuance of exceptional distress in Belfast, he would endeavour to have a further grant made by the Local Government Board in aid of the relief of unemployed there?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board have no information with regard to576W the statement mentioned in the question. The Relief Statistics do not indicate the existence of any abnormal distress It may, however, be mentioned that a sum of £85,290 per annum is now being distributed in old age pensions in the city of Belfast.