asked the Minister of Munitions (1) whether the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic), in making recent extensive alterations on their premises at Annan, asked the permission of the Dean of Guild Court; if not, will he explain why this course was not adopted; (2) whether he is aware of the unanimous resolution passed by the town council of Annan calling attention to the uncalled for and unnecessary expenditure of the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) in that burgh; and whether, when private citizens are requested to economise in every way, he can restrain this board from reckless extravagance?

I will answer these two questions together. I have seen the resolution to which my right hon. Friend refers. It gives no particulars of any item of expenditure to which exception is taken. If reference is intended to certain alterations, the permission of the Dean of Guild Court was not necessary. The local advisory committee, on which the town council is. well represented, considered the plans of the proposed improvements and strongly approved of the scheme. If reference is intended to the board's capital expenditure, the amount of this expenditure was settled, not by the board, but by the Scottish Division of the Defence of the Realm Losses (Licensed Trade Claims) Royal Commission.