asked the Food Controller whether, in view of the statement by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food that there is an actual loss to the State at present of at least 4d. on every quartern loaf sold at 9d., he will state, by adducing prices, how the cost of 13d. per quartern loaf to the State is arrived at; what is the aggregate of this loss per year to the State; and whether there is any immediate prospect of a reduction in this amount?

Since the statement to which the hon. Member refers was made some alteration in the position has taken place. It is estimated that the loss to the State at the present time is very nearly Id. on every pound of flour sold; and the loss on a quartern loaf is, accordingly, nearer 3d.than 4d. The present annual loss to the State in respect of this subsidy is estimated to be at the rate of £47,000,000. This estimate is based on the average cost of wheat as 84s. 6d. per 480lbs., the average cost of imported flour as 76s. 9d. per sack of 280lbs., and the average net price of home-milled and imported flour as 44s. 6d. per sack of 280 lbs. There appears to be no prospect of any material reduction on this amount, at any rate during the next few months. I should add that the cost prices which I have quoted are subject to adjustment on the settlement of the accounts of the Inter-Allied Wheat Executive.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if the attention of the Board has been called to the wholesale slaughter of immature calves which is taking place at the present time; and whether it is proposed to take any steps in the matter, in view of the feared shortage of meat in the near future?

I have been asked to reply. I cannot accept the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion that the wholesale slaugher of immature calves is taking place at the present time. The slaughter of calves is regulated by the Calves (Sales) Order, under which all calves must be killed in. Government authorised slaughter-houses; and it is possible that this centralisation of slaughter may make its extent appear greater than in fact it is. Government slaughter-house agents have been instructed to refuse to accept calves less than seven days old. Further, both the Ministry of Food and the Board of Agriculture are fully alive to the necessity for the rearing of as many calves as possible, and I am informed that the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries is considering the establishment of centres at which calves can be collected from districts in which they are not required for rearing and distributed to those parts of the country where they are in demand.

asked the Food Controller whether the discrimination shown in fixing the price of milk at 2d. a gallon less for the four counties of Dorset, Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall is to form a precedent for the same treatment of other agricultural industries in these counties?

No suggestion has been made for differentiation in the treatment of other specific branches of the agricultural industries in these counties. The principle of differentiation on the basis of cost of production in respect of agricultural produce in different districts was already established in the case of potatoes and soft fruit

asked the Food Controller whether, seeing that hides only refers to the skins of cattle slaughtered in public abattoirs whose carcases are sold for human food and that kips and calfskins are trade terms for the skins of young cattle under two years killed by accident or dying from disease, it is possible to withdraw the Kips and Calf-skins (Ireland) Order, since the reason given for not freeing the trade from Ireland in hides was owing to the controlled price of beef, which expires in September?

The Food Controller is unable to accept the definitions of hides, kips, and calf-skins given by the hon. Member. I may say, however, that the question of revoking this Order is now being considered; and due weight will be given in this connection to the representation which the hon. Member has made.

asked the Chief secretary for Ireland whether he will ascertain from the Estates Commissioners whether they have been able to give any land of the estate recently divided in the district to Regimental Quartermaster-Sergeant Bond, of Clonmellon, county Westmeath, recently demobilised after more than twenty-four years' continuous service in the Army and in possession of six medals and the Distinguished Conduct Medal, and who is qualified and possesses the financial means to earn a living as a small landholder?

The reply is in the negative. The Estates Commissioners do not appear to have divided any lands recently in the district.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Powers propose to remain faithful to the promise of 1913 to recognise the Albanian State; and, if so, will they give this State the possibility of economic life?

I can add nothing at present to the answer returned to the hon. and gallant Member on this subject on 17th March.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give the number of police now on the strength of the county and borough forces in England, Wales, and Scotland, the Metropolitan Police, the London City Police, the Dublin Metropolitan Police, the Royal Irish Constabulary, the police employed by railway companies under Government control, and the strength of the staff employed in local and convict prisons?

I cannot give the present number of police on the strength of the county and borough forces in England and Wales, but at the end of September last the actual strength was 24,659, and in the City of London 794. The return from the Army of members of the regular police and recruiting have since then no doubt substantially increased these numbers. The present strength of the Metropolitan police is 18,450. The staff employed in local and convict prisons and Borstal institutions numbers 2,609. I have no information of the number of police employed by railway companies. Inquiries with regard to the police in Scotland and Ireland should be addressed to the Scottish and Irish Offices respectively.