§ Brigadier-General McCALMONTasked the Pensions Minister whether he is aware that the Shamrock Fund is under the auspices of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Help Society and is supplementing what is done by pensions committees; whether the pictorial appeal to America suggesting that Irish soldiers were neglected by the British Government has since been withdrawn from publication, together with schedules of alleged serious cases of neglect; and whether he is now able to give the appeal his full approval?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENWhen my hon. and gallant Friend first drew my attention to this fund, I did not realise that it was identical with the Dublin Soldiers' and Sailors' Help Society, as the title "Shamrock Fund" had never been used in any of our communications with that body. This society has done excellent 999W work in the matter of training disabled Irish soldiers and sailors, acting in co operation with the Ministry of Pensions, and I am glad to have the opportunity of publicly acknowledging the help they have given us. It is quite true that in a pamphlet circulated, I believe, in America under the title "Shamrock Fund" no allusion was made to the Ministry, and it might have been inferred that we were doing nothing. As a matter of fact, we pay for the training given under the auspices of the society. I understand that this circular has now been withdrawn, and another one has been substituted in which the work of the Ministry is duly acknowledged