asked the Pensions Minister if ex-policemen who joined the Army during the late War who were in return for past services in receipt of pensions, and who were subsequently wounded and became entitled to wound pensions, are under existing rules deprived of the police pension they had previously earned; and if he will consider the advisability of initiating legislation for the purpose of removing this anomaly?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The answer to the first part is in the negative. The second part does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Pensions Minister, in view of the fact that the question has been under consideration for some months, whether he is now in a position to announce that half-fare vouchers will be issued to discharged men undergoing treatment to enable them to return home on leave?

I would re- mind the hon. Member that, subject to the conditions laid down in the Instructions issued by the Ministry, men undergoing treatment away from home can be given a free railway ticket once every six month to enable them to visit their homes. The question of giving additional facilities for means of half-fare vouchers is being considered as part of the general question of travelling concessions for men of His Majesty's forces, and I cannot yet announce a decision.

Do I understand that the travelling concessions for ex-Service men are being considered at the same time as concessions for serving men?

Yes, that is so.

asked the Pensions Minister whether, under the recent Royal Warrant, the retired pay for temporary officers who have been invalided out of the Army with disability equal to the loss of a limb and placed on half-pay, has been increased to meet the higher cost of living?

There has been no Royal Warrant of recent date relating to the disability retired pay of officers. The matter referred to in this question is under the consideration of the Select Committee, the present position being that a bonus of 20 per cent. is added to the retired pay to meet the higher cost of living.

asked the Pensions Minister whether he will reconsider his decision that parents' pensions based on dependence, although no separation allowance was issued while the soldier was serving, shall be paid from the date of application only and not from the date of death, in view of the fact that the onus of awarding such pensions without application should rest on the Government, as no intimation was issued to parents at the time of the soldier's death that a claim could be made, and that the Ministry of Pensions publicity campaign advertising parents' pensions did not commence until several years after the outbreak of war, the result being that in a large number of cases, through ignorance of the regulations, parents made no application for a considerable time after the soldier's death and have been greatly penalized?

I regret that I am unable to reconsider the decision that parents' pensions which depend upon application can only be awarded as from the date on which the application is made.

asked the Pensions Minister whether he will give any indication as to when the pensions for disablement of those disabled by former wars will be raised to the standard contained in the Royal Warrant of the Great War?

The rates of pension for men disabled by former wars have already been raised to the level of pensions of the Great War, as I announced in July last, and a considerable number of those increased pensions are now in payment. A former war pension can only be increased on application, which should be made to the Awards Branch at Chelsea.

Does that include the allowance for a wife the same as for soldiers and sailors in the late War?

I think not, but I will let my right hon. Friend know definitely.

If it is not the case will the right hon. Gentleman see that the conditions are made similar in that respect as for the soldiers in the late War?

I will consider that.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty why men who formed the yacht patrol have been refused the war gratuity; and whether, in view of the consequent dissatisfaction among the men concerned, he can see his way to include them in the award?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Westhoughton (Mr. Tyson Wilson) on the 30th July last. I will send my hon. Friend a copy, The position is still the same.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what the position of these men will be?

The position is this. In one way and another these men get something approaching the consideration which Mercantile Marine Ratings get. These latter do not get the war gratuity, because they are paid more than naval ratings. Therefore, the men under consideration do not get the War gratuity.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, in view of the fact that the declared objects of the Irish National Loan are the promoting of direct trade to and from Ireland, the development of fisheries, agriculture, afforestation and industries, and the establishment of a land bank in Ireland, he proposes to continue instituting criminal proceedings against all persons soliciting subscriptions to this loan?

The objects of the loan, as stated in the question, are not. accurately presented. The Loan prospectus provides that interest on the Loan will not be payable until six months after the Irish Republic has received International Recognition and the English have evacuated Ireland. The prospectus further states that the proceeds will be used for propagating the Irish case all Over the World, for establishing in Foreign Countries Consular Services to promote Irish Trade and Commerce, for fostering Irish industries, and, generally, for National Purposes as directed by Dail Eireann.

Can the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of the question, as to whether he proposes to continue instituting criminal proceedings, and, if that is the case, does he propose to prosecute the Archbishop of Dublin for advocating this loan?

All that I can say is that His Majesty's Government is, determined not to allow any other Government to usurp their constitutional functions.

May I ask whether it is the fact that the chief object of this loan is to carry out a murder campaign in Ireland?

Would it not be a good thing to allow some of these individuals to collect this money, and then endeavour to collar it, and use it for useful purposes?

I will look into that question.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that a company, styled the Reconstruction and Federation of Industries, Limited, entered into negotiations some months ago with several of the leading Irish municipalities with the object of negotiating a loan of £150,000,000 for building purposes in Ireland; whether he is aware that the company now charge the Government with delaying the negotiations; whether he can state if any negotiations have taken place between the company and the Government; what is the cause of the delay; and when may a decision be expected?

I have no detailed information of the negotiations between Irish municipalities and this company, nor am I aware that the Government are concerned with such negotiations.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the company say that the reason for not lending money to these Irish municipalities is that the Government are holding them up?

If such a rumour is being circulated it has absolutely no foundation.

May I assume, then, that this company is a South Sea Bubble?

I never heard of the company till I read the question of my hon. Friend.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that St. Andrew's National School, Hope Street, Belfast, has consistently had a good record, and has earned a good Grant; that successive inspectors have reported favourably upon it and upon its accommodation, and that now, for the first time, a new inspector has found fault with its equipment; whether this adverse report endangers the Grant upon which this most useful school is depending; and what steps he proposes to take?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the school referred to has a satis- factory record. My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension in stating that now for the first time a new inspector has found fault with the equipment of the school. So far back as December, 1912, and again in March, 1918, the then inspector called attention to this matter. In August of the present year the matter was again brought under his notice, and he was informed that, unless the necessary desks were supplied before 31st December, 1919, the question of the continuance of Grants to the school must be considered, under the terms of Rule 178 of the Code, which prescribes that, to warrant continuance of Grants to any school, the schoolhouse must be properly furnished.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, in respect of the previous complaint, the requisition was then complied with; and is he also aware that the failure to provide additional equipment now is due to the fact that school authorities are holding their hand awaiting the Education Bill?

I was not aware of those facts. As the hon. Gentleman well knows, I am speaking as the mouthpiece of the Education Department. I will have those facts brought to their notice, and see what I can do.

Will the right hon. Gentleman in the meantime undertake, if the defect is due largely to inaction on the part of the Government, to see that this school is not subjected to any penalty?

I will convey those facts to the authorities.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the attempt of the South Kildare farmers to organise and equip an abattoir and dressed meat business; whether the Department of Agriculture have refused to issue a licence; and, if so, what is the reason for this refusal?

My hon. and gallant Friend presumably refers to the Athy Dressed Meat Society. No licence from the Department is necessary to engage in the dressed meat business, but under an Order of the Food Controller meat can be exported to Great Britain only with a permit granted by the Department, and of late the quantity of meat to be accepted in Great Britain has been strictly limited, while this limitation exists an additional export to that now authorised will not be accepted at British ports. As soon as this limitation is relaxed, and in the event of the control of meat export continuing, the Department will grant the society the necessary permit for export and make arrangements for the inspection of the meat.

May I ask will the Government do away with this control of the export of meat from Ireland to Great Britain?

The whole question is now being considered.

asked the Chief Secretary if he can now make any statement as to his negotiation with the Treasury in connection with increasing the pensions of retired members of the police forces in Ireland?

I regret that I am not in a position to make any statement, but I hope shortly to be able to do so.

Would it not be only fair to place these retired policemen in the same position to-day as if there had been no depreciation in the sovereign and as if there had been no rise in the cost of living. That is all they are asking?

I promised the House I would make representations to the Treasury. I have made a suggestion to the Treasury, and I understand it is now receiving consideration. I cannot say more at present, but if a question is put down next week I hope to be in a position to reply.

Will the Government consider the whole question of old pensioners?

No, Sir; the case of the Royal Irish Constabulary ex-pensioners is entirely different from that of any other pensioners.

asked the Chief Secretary if he can say what will be the sum of money contributable from Imperial funds to education in Ireland in the financial year 1920–21, assuming that the Education (Ireland) Bill passes into law in its present form and that the Imperial Grant for education in Great Britain in 1920–21 is the same as the amount estimated or payable in respect of the financial year now current; and, acting on the above assumption, can he say by how much the Irish Grant for 1920–21 will exceed the amount estimated or payable in the current year?

On the hon. and gallant Member's hypothesis, and excluding cost of administration and of other services referred to in the Bill, it is estimated that the equivalent Grant for Education in Ireland for the financial year 1920–21 would amount to £3,533,542. Making the necessary adjustments, this grant will exceed the estimated amount payable in respect of the corresponding services under present conditions for the current year by £301,910.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Irish Education Bill is to be submitted for Second Reading before the Recess; whether its financial provisions will be based upon the recommendations of the recent Killanin Report; whether he is aware that the Killanin Report recommendations are practically identical with the Craik financial proposals in the Scottish Education Bill, and that the Craik scale of salaries has now had to be amended; whether, in view of this, he will see that the new salaries scale of the Irish Bill will be based upon the revised Scottish proposals; and whether, in the event of the Irish Bill becoming law early in 1920, the increases will be proposed to be retrospective as from 1st January, 1920?

With regard to the first part of the question, I am not in a position to make any definite statement, but I believe the Leader of the House will make a statement at the end of Questions to-day. The financial provisions of the Bill itself follow generally the line of the Scottish Education Act of 1918. As regards the question of National School teachers' salaries it is hoped that, under the Bill, funds will be available to enable a scale of salaries to be introduced which will be considerably better than that recommended by the Killanin Committee, and which will compare not unfavourably with the revised Scottish scale. It is also hoped that under the provisions of the Bill to make the new scale of salaries operative as from the 1st April, 1919.

Arising out of the first portion of the question, may I ask how he proposes to reconcile the policy of introducing a Bill to co-ordinate and centralise education in Ireland, and at the same time, and almost in the same breath, introducing a Bill to divide the country into two parts?

That is a question of policy, which my hon. Friend will, of course, put to the Leader of the House or the Prime Minister.

Has the right hon. Gentleman nothing to do with the Irish policy of the Government?

A great deal.

Then why cannot he answer?

asked the Chief Secretary how many persons are at present imprisoned in Ireland for political offences; and how many, if any, of these are hunger-striking?

The number of persons at present imprisoned in Ireland who in the popular phrase are "political prisoners," is 151. There is no prisoner at present on hunger strike.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many people altogether are in prison in Ireland?

I cannot say, but if the hon. Member will put down a question I will give him an answer.

May I ask if the Attorney-General assented to the proposition that it is legal for the Government to stand by and permit hunger-strikers to starve themselves to death?

I cannot say, but perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put the question to the Attorney-General.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is the intention of the Government, before introducing the Home Rule Bill, to release all Irish political prisoners and to withdraw the proclamations under the Crimes Act?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative.

May I ask whether this is a new idea on the part of the Government to enforce conciliation by coercion?

No. It is not an entirely new idea on the part of some people in Ireland to make it necessary.

Does my right hon. Friend not think, if the Government and the House are really in earnest in trying to reach an Irish settlement, that it is very desirable to clear the ground by means of this kind of concession?

Before my right hon. Friend answers that question, would he also tell us whether he thinks it would not be desirable, if it is wished to have the ground cleared, that there should be a discontinuance of the programme of murder and outrage?

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers that question, would it not be a good idea to clear away the originators of the policy of direct action in Ireland?

The most direct action at the present moment is murder. I should be very glad if the originators could be cleared out.

May I ask whether—

The House is rattle, anticipating the Debate on the Home Rule Bill.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that the military rule in Ireland which has suppressed the freedom of the Press, the right of personal liberty, and trial by jury has driven disaffection underground, which disaffection in turn finds an outlet in crime, he will, in order to give the proposals of the Government for the self-government of Ireland a better chance of acceptance, immediately suspend this form of government?

If, as I presume is the case, the question suggests that the Government should cease to adopt the means which they consider necessary to enforce order and preserve human life, the answer is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government have received any information that the Government of Serbia have begun the deportation of Montenegrin citizens, and are interning them in special places in Serbia, Bosnia, and particularly at Sarajevo; and, if so, whether this is contrary to arrangements made by the Peace Conference?

The answer is in the negative.

What affair is it of ours if the Serbian Government have begun the deportation of Montenegrin citizens?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when the case of Albania is likely to come before the Peace Conference?

I must refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave to his question yesterday.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now state when the Treaty of Peace with Germany will be ratified?

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he is in a position to say when the Peace Treaty between Germany and the Allies will be fully ratified; and if he can explain the reasons for the delay?

Negotiations are in progress between the Allied Governments and the German Government as to the formal exchange of ratifications, and a Note was presented to the German Peace Delegation on 8th December warning them that the Allies desire the final deposit of ratifications to be made without further delay.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether he thinks, or anticipates, those will be complied with before we rise for the Recess?

It is rather rash, I think, to prophesy, but I strongly hope

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that in many cases the housing schemes of local authorities are held up by the delay in securing the opinion of the district land valuer in disputed questions of the price to be paid for land; and whether he can expedite the decisions of the valuers, and so remove this cause of delay?

I am satisfied that there is little delay in actual valuation. Where delay occurs it is usually in connection with negotiations where I am advised that the price asked is excessive. In such cases I think that, with a view to expedition, greater use should be made of the compulsory powers which local authorities possess, and I am urging this course upon them.

May I ask whether, in certain cases where delay does occur for want of a definite opinion, he will consider the appointment of specially-qualified men outside the Government staff, without increasing the Government staff, to make valuations?

I do not understand how I could appoint additional men without increasing the staff, but perhaps my hon. Friend will give me any cases he knows of? I do not know of any.

Would it not be easy to take on a number of temporary men for a few months?

We do; we have a large number of temporary men taken on. If my hon. Friend knows of any cases where the figures are held up because of the absence of a valuer's opinion, I will have the matter dealt with at once.

I will send the right hon. Gentleman particulars.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the urgent need for the increase of population, now and for the future, he is aware that, by limiting the bonus to builders of houses of four bedrooms, he is unconsciously forcing the limitation of families upon considerable sections of the people?

No, Sir; I am advised that the principal need at the present time is for houses with not more than four bedrooms.

asked the Minister of Health if the housing scheme submitted to his Department by local authorities state the actual number of houses to be erected on the suggested sites; and, if so, what is the number?

Complete information is not yet available as to the actual number of houses proposed to be erected under local authorities' housing schemes, but the site plans submitted comprise, approximately, 57,000 acres, which will be Sufficient for at least 570,000 houses.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that in the Moss Side district of Manchester accommodation in the foreign quarter on the north side of the city is offered as alternative accommodation within the meaning of the Rent Restriction Acts for tenants whose ejectment from houses in Moss Side is sought by landlords; and whether he will supplement the placard which the Ministry of Health is about to circulate in Manchester and Salford by an explanation of the meaning of alternative accommodation?

I have no information as to the first part of the question. It is for the Court to whom application is made for an ejectment order to decide, according to the circumstances of the particular case, what should be regarded as alternative accommodation for the purposes of the Acts.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a certain type of speculator is buying up houses in the better suburbs, and at the same time is buying up inferior houses in the foreign quarter of Manchester into which they endeavour to get the tenants from the better houses in order to get a profit out of the better houses?

Yes, I am aware of the circumstances in that district.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the housing scheme within the Margam area provides for 5 per cent, of the houses having only one room downstairs and two upstairs; whether this scheme was put forward on instructions issued by his Department; whether he is aware that the scheme is being strongly criticised on the ground that even a working-class family is entitled to a room to which the members may retire from domestic activities; and whether he will take steps to have the scheme reconsidered?

Two out of forty houses included in the scheme of the Margam Urban District Council are planned with two instead of three bedrooms, in response to a local demand for houses of this type. With this exception, there is no difference between these houses and the approved three-bedroom type, and they have all the necessary and desirable amenities.

Does that mean that they have more than one room downstairs?

If there are no houses with less than two they must have more than one.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that the Admiralty Barracks, Blyth, Northumberland, are now vacant; and, if so, will he make arrangements for the Blyth Urban Council to purchase them, to be used as tenements, owing to the fact that the area is 2,000 houses short?

The disposal of this property has been placed in the hands of the Disposal Board, and the Admiralty have already informed the Blyth Urban District Council that they should communicate with that board with regard to their desire to purchase the buildings in question.

asked the Prime Minister whether the recent revolutions against Admiral Koltchak at Vladivostok, Irkutsk, and other Siberian districts aimed at securing a peaceable agreement with the Russian Soviet Government and the establishment of a Siberian constituent assembly; and what was the attitude of the British representatives in Siberia towards these demands?

The aims referred to in the question were no doubt in the minds of some of the authors of these revolutions. His Majesty's representatives in Siberia did not interfere in any way with incidents that were entirely connected with the internal affairs of Siberia.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any information to the effect that from the 18th to 20th October, immediately after the evacuation of Kiev by the Bolsheviks, some Cossacks and a corps of the volunteer army perpetrated a pogrom on the Jews in that city, killing some hundreds of Jews in the suburb of Podol alone; and whether His Majesty's Government will instruct the special British mission to South Russia to Make a full inquiry into this and other reported pogroms?

A report has been received tending to corroborate the first part of the question. His Majesty's High Commissioner has been instructed to report fully on alleged pogroms in South Russia, and the British Military Mission has already received instructions to do all in its power to prevent such excesses.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the malicious propaganda of enemy aliens misrepresenting British and Allied feeling towards Russia, he is prepared, after consultation with the Supreme Council of Allies, to declare a policy towards Russia?

I quite realise the evils referred to in the first part of the question, but I do not think it would be possible to add anything to the very clear statement of Government policy made by the Prime Minister on the 13th of November last.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government will publish the Report of General Sir Hubert Gough on the situation in the Baltic States and North-Western Russia?

I do not think that it would be in the public interest to publish these or similar despatches.

Is it not a fact that this general (who did such valuable service elsewhere) has reported in an adverse sense on a great deal of the public criticism which we are asked to believe is true, and does not the right hon. Gentleman think it would inform public opinion if the evidence of this general were published, so that the public could draw their own conclusions?

The hon. Gentleman must not assume that I agree with his first statement, but I think the House will agree that it would be an impossible position if generals or other people sent by the Cabinet to get information were to have the private information given to us made public.

I quite agree, but, on the other hand, is my right hon. Friend not aware of the amount of information which has been given on both sides—because it is very difficult to get accurate information of any sort—has been such that the public has drawn false and wrong impressions, and when the Cabinet sends a distinguished general on a mission of this kind, will the right hon. Gentleman not give us the benefit of that precise information, so that we can form sane conclusions?

There has certainly been a great deal of erroneous informa- tion, but what I said before must apply. It is quite impossible for despatches of that kind to be made public; but in debate, the general result of the information we have received was given to the House.

In connection with the lack of information, would the right hon. Gentleman consider the publication of other Reports in continuance of the White Paper published a few months ago about the position in Russia?

I will consider that with the Foreign Secretary.

asked the Prime-Minister when and where the inter-Allied, Conference on the Russian question will take place?

The Prime Minister of France and the Italian Foreign Minister are now in London, and the Russian problem will be among the subjects that will be discussed with them.

May I ask whether, after that discussion, a statement on this most important subject will be made to this House?

A statement certainly could not be made after this discussion. It is too much to expect that any definite or final conclusion should be reached after this visit?

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that millers are prohibited from giving more than 76s. 6d. per quarter for home-grown wheat while the Government are paying 90s. and upwards for overseas wheat; and whether, in view of the situation in which British farmers and smallholders are placed by these conditions and the danger of much arable land going out of cultivation, he will consider the desirability of discontinuing this provision, which amounts to a subsidy to the State of 15s. per quarter on the part of borne growers of wheat?

The arrangements made by the Wheat Commission are designed to carry out the undertaking given by the Government on the 19th November, 1918, that the price of home-grown wheat for 1919 should not be less than 71s. 11d. per quarter of 480 lbs., and I am not prepared to modify them.

asked the Prime Minister whether there are considerable supplies of wheat and other cereals available for export from the area of operations of the anti-Bolshevik forces in Southern Russia; whether the difficulty of securing these stocks is the chaotic condition of internal communication in that area; whether British ships sent. to load these cargoes were forced to come away empty through the indifferent organisation of transport; whether the existing condition of Central Europe demands special efforts being made to transport wheat from Russian Black Sea ports up the Danube; and whether the British transportation mission with. General Denikin's headquarters, have put forward any scheme for making use of this large surplus stock of wheat?

The facts are, I believe, generally as stated in the question, but I cannot add anything to the replies given to my hon. Friend the Member for the Springburn Division of Glasgow on the 19th November and yesterday.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government have abandoned the policy with reference to coal mines announced by him on 18th August?

I have nothing to add on this subject to the statements already made.

asked the President of the. Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that in certain cases coal merchants are able to obtain supplies of coal which they require for industrial purposes, but cannot get supplies which they state are for domestic purposes, owing to the fact that coal for industrial purposes fetches a higher price; and how he proposes to remedy this defect in the system of regulation of coal supplies?

Collieries have been instructed to maintain full supplies of coal for domestic and household purposes, and arrangements have been made for making financial advances to collieries where necessary. In view of the measures already taken, it is anticipated that the difficulties to which the lion. Member refers will not arise, but the situation is being carefully watched.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the recent reduction in the price of domestic coal, he will issue instructions for the guidance of coal merchants to enable them to distinguish between industrial consumers and domestic consumers for the purpose of making their charges; and how he proposes the difficulty shall be met where part of a coal supply is used for domestic purposes and part for business purposes, which situation arises in the case of a baker who resides on the premises in which he bakes his bread?

In the Coal (Pit's Mouth) Prices Order and Direction, 1919, and the Wholesale Coal Prices Order, 1919, both of which have been circulated to merchants, coal for domestic or household purposes is defined as coal bought or sold for the purpose of supplying consumers under the provisions of the Household Fuel and Lighting Order, 1919. As consumers under these provisions are registered persons, there should be no difficulty in distinguishing between industrial consumers and domestic consumers for the purposes of the Order which gives effect to the reduction in price.

Will the hon. Gentleman answer the last part of my question and say if a baker can get coal at domestic rates for baking?

Clause 1 (b) of the Household Fuel and Lighting Order, 1919, applies, namely: "Coal used for all purposes in a dwelling-house or in a building adjacent to or connected with a dwelling-house and occupied or used as part thereof."

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the remunerative export trade in coal has been limited by the Coal Controller almost entirely to the collieries of Northumberland, Durham, Lancashire, Cumberland, and South Wales, leaving the now far less remunerative home trade to the collieries of the West Riding of Yorkshire and the Midlands; and how the inequality in profit is to be adjusted in fairness to the collieries of the West Riding and the Midlands?

The export trade in coal is restricted almost entirely to the South Wales, Durham, Northumberland, and Scottish coalfields, though a small quantity of slack is released for export from Yorkshire. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the provisions of the Coal Industry (Emergency) Bill.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the serious shortage of coal for household purposes in West Norfolk generally, and especially in the villages of Snettisham, Creake, and Rudham; and if steps will be taken to alleviate the distress of the inhabitants without delay?

I am aware of the shortage of supplies of household coal in the districts mentioned, which is due to railway transport difficulties. Emergency issues of coal have been arranged to relieve the immediate shortage, and the railway transport difficulty is in hand with the Ministry of Transport.