asked the Secretary for Mines why the staffs of fuel overseers' offices of his Department are employed by local authorities, whereas the staffs of local food offices are employed by the Ministry of Food and not by local autho- rities; and whether, with a view to greater administrative efficiency and to the well-being of the staffs, he will make the staffs of fuel overseers'offices servants of the Crown?

Fuel control was administered by the local authorities in 1918, 1921 and 1926, and I am satisfied that the present arrangement is the most efficient way of dealing with the problem. The administration of food control raises quite different issues from those connected with fuel control.