§ Mr. BYRNEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he has succeeded in securing a Grant to enable the Dublin cooked food depots to continue their work?
§ Mr. DUKENo, Sir. The Committee of the National Relief Fund, to whom the application of the committee of the cooked232W food depots for a further Grant was referred, state that they are unable to sanction a Grant for the payment of wages and administrative expenses of the depots, as they are of opinion that their funds are not applicable for such a purpose. A Grant for equipment and expenses was made a year ago and an additional Grant later; but the question has now arisen as to whether the National Relief Fund can be applied towards payment of wages and working expenses, and the committee have decided, in accordance with their general practice, that it cannot, the rule being that stated in January by Lord Rhondda, namely, that the actual working of communal kitchens should be conducted without loss, the food being supplied at cost price and the expenses met, if need be, by local charitable contributions.