asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken to ensure that labourers and farmers desirous of brewing at home can purchase the necessary hops and malt, seeing that in many cases both brewers and maltsters to supply them?

I have been asked to reply. Since 5th May, 1919, home brewing has been permitted, and the necessary malt has been allocated by the Ministry of Food. Applicants for malt for home brewing must first apply to their local agricultural committee for a permit to purchase. If applicants then experience any difficulty in finding a seller, the Ministry will furnish the names of licensed sellers in the applicant's district. An ample supply of malt has been allocated for home brewing.

asked the Food Controller if he is aware that the inadequate supply of beer at the present time to meet the demand of the working classes is causing serious discontent and unrest; and whether ho is prepared to sanction an increase in the output and issue orders to the brewers that the supplies should be more evenly distributed, special care being given to the remote rural districts?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The question of sanctioning an increase in the output of beer has been fully considered by the Government during the Recess, and I expect to be able to make an announcement shortly. I may, however, state that the increase recently sanctioned practically exhausts the materials available until after next harvest. Special care is already being given to the needs of rural districts, but in some cases difficulties of transport have rendered equal distribution impossible.

asked the Food Controller at what date the maximum control price of barley will be removed?

The Grain (Prices) Order, 1918, as amended, fixes the maximum prices for barley harvested in the United Kingdom in the year 1918. As the Order referred to controls the price of that specific crop only, it will lapse automatically as soon as the crop is exhausted.

asked the Food Controller whether he will make suitable modifications in the Stale Bread Order to meet the inconvenience now caused in country districts where Bakers only deliver bread three time weekly and where Monday's delivery has to be baked on Saturday?

At the request of the War Cabinet, the Minister of Labour recently appointed a Committee to inquire into night work in the baking industry, and decided that pending the report of this Committee the twelve hours Clause of the Bread Order should be maintained. I understand that the Committee has completed the taking of evidence and will report shortly. The whole position will then be reviewed.

asked the Food Controller whether part of a consignment of beef supplied to the group buyer in Newmarket on 22nd May was condemned by the medical officer of health of the urban district council and destroyed by the order of the Petty Sessional Court; whether the group buyer is demanding payment for this condemned meat; and whether he will take steps to prevent retailers being thus charged for the supply of bad meat for which the Food Ministry is entirely responsible?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. The total quantity of imported meat consigned to Newmarket during the week in question was 4,000 lbs., of which 140 lbs. allocated to one butcher were condemned. Condemnation did not take place until five days after delivery, a period which considerably exceeds the time within which claims are allowed by the Ministry of Food. As no complaint was received from other retailers in Newmarket in respect of this consignment of meat, I cannot accept the statement made in the third part of the question with regard to the responsibility of the Ministry of Food.

asked the Food Controller whether the maximum retail prices of milk for the next three months have been fixed in the Thingoe district of Suffolk, by the Food Commissioner at Cambridge, at prices 8d. below the monthly maximum fixed by the Ministry of Food; whether, in spite of the small proportion of pasture in Suffolk, these prices are 6d. less than those authorised for dairying counties such as Somersetshire; and whether, in view of the fact that the Thingoe Food Control Committee were never consulted as to the price and have made strong objection to it, the Ministry of Food will reconsider the matter and vary the decision of the Food Commissioner at Cambridge, in view of the undertaking given on 1st May that local food control committees would always be consulted before prices were determined?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The question of the proportion of pasture land in Suffolk affects, not the retailers' margin, but the price paid to the farmer, which is 2d. per gallon higher in Suffolk than in Somerset. The average retail margin allowed in Thingoe for the five summer months is 6 3–5d. per gallon, an increase of 1 3–5d. per gallon on the margin allowed last winter, and is approximately the same as the margin in rural districts in Somerset. With reference to the last part of the question, I am informed that the local food control committee was called into consultation before the fixing of the price, and that no protest on the subject has been received by the Ministry of Food.

asked the Food Controller on what grounds he has closed, from 23rd June, the Government slaughterhouses at Barnsley, Wakefield, and Shipley, all in the West Riding of Yorks, seeing that this Order, if enforced, will involve a great amount of cartage of fresh-killed meat during the rest of the summer months, to the deterioration and waste of food; and will he suspend the Order for the time being, seeing that these slaughterhouses can be carried on by his Department at a very small cost out of the profits made by him from the sale of edible offals, hides, and other by-products from stock slaughtered at those slaughter-houses?

These slaughter-houses were not, in fact, closed on the 23rd June. It was proposed to close them on the 28th inst., but the notices have been suspended pending further consideration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty in how many battleships, cruisers, destroyers, and submarines at the Armistice period there were men who had graduated through the engine-room artificer branch of the Navy in sole charge of the machinery; and whether the Board will consider the policy of extending this succesful policy still further?

The total numbers (including engineer officers, chief engine-room artificers, and engine-room artificers) who were in sole charge of the machinery at the Armistice period are as follows:In battleships, three; in cruisers, eight; in destroyers, 281; and in submarines, 121. I should add that the battleships and cruisers in which engineer officers, who graduated through the engine-room artificer branch, were borne in charge of the machinery were, with the exception of one light cruiser, non-seagoing at the time.It is the intention to continue the employment of officers who have graduated as described in charge of the machinery of His Majesty's ships, but the extent to which it will be possible to do so in the future must depend upon the requirements of the Fleet in relation to the engineering personnel as a whole.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of some misunderstanding which has. arisen as to the position of teachers who sign a declaration under Rule 14 of the School Teachers' Superannuation Rules, 1919, of their desire to withdraw from a pension scheme, he could see his way to extend the period prescribed by the rule from 1st July to 1st August?

Whenever a teacher is really doubtful whether it would be to his advantage to remain under an existing pension scheme or to come under the Act of 1918, I am quite willing to give him time to make up his mind. I understand, however, that a considerable number of teachers to whom the provisions of the Act would in any case be more advantageous than those of their existing schemes have refrained from sending in their declarations in the belief that they would prejudice their chance of securing the approval of the Treasury to satisfactory terms of recoupment under Sub-section (1) (d) of Section 14 of the Act. I do not think the Board are in any way responsible for this misunderstanding, but whatever its cause I am naturally unwilling that a considerable number of teachers should be deprived of the benefits of the Act, and the Board will, therefore, exercise their discretion under Rule 4 by extending the period to 1st August. I must, of course, not be understood as expressing any opinion as to the merits of any contention which the teachers may advance on a question which is one for the decision of the Treasury.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether any and, if so, what law is now in force against the use of head-lights; and, if there be such, for what reason it continues to exist?

I have been asked by my right hon. Friend to reply to this question. The use of head-lights is now regulated by the Lights (Vehicles) Order, a copy of which I will send to the hon. Member. The object of the Order is to prevent the use of excessively brilliant and dazzling lights, which would be a source of danger to other users of the road.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in the recent selection of a junior third-class surveyors' clerk for promotion to the class of assistant surveyors, the claims and qualifications of the 133 third-class surveyors' clerks senior to the officer selected were duly considered; if so, whether none of the officers senior to the man selected was considered competent to fill the position; whether the junior officer selected is a near relative of two higher officials of the Post Office; and whether this relationship influenced the selection?

The officer in question has not been appointed an assistant surveyor, but is being given a trial on the duties with a view to appointment if he proves successful. The qualifications of other members of the class have been, and are being, considered, but this is not a matter in which seniority is the determining factor. The officer in question is, I believe, a relative of higher officials in the Post Office, but this relationship has not influenced the selection in any way.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether firms which ceased to import Swiss lace curtains in 1916 at the request of the Government in order to keep the money circulating in this country are now refused licences to import such curtains, because this merchandise is only admitted on the basis of the imports of 1916; and, if so, why this discrimination is exercised?

In order to arrive at the prescribed total ration it is usual to allot the allowed percentage to firms importing in the standard year. Exceptional rations, however, are usually given to regular importers who may not have imported in this year. If my hon. Friend will furnish me with the names of the firms concerned, I will see that their claims are considered.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller if he will arrange to assign part of the accommodation on ships to South Africa, commandeered by the Government, to the wives and families of British residents in that Dominion?

All commandeered space is required for the repatriation of the South African forces. Such accommodation for passengers as can be left free is in the hands of the steamship companies, who have been asked to arrange bookings in communication with the High Commissioner of South Africa. The High Commissioner has a priority scheme for dealing with civilian passengers.