asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to a communication from a meeting of the Midland Association of Gas Engineers and Managers, which comprises over 100 Midland towns, held in Birmingham on the 11th instant, indicating the difficulty experienced in obtaining adequate supplies of coal, and expressing apprehension at the shortage of gas coal, reserve stocks in several industrial towns being only two or three days, and in the majority less than one week's supply, and asking that gas coal may be given priority in order that reserve stocks may be built up to four weeks' consumption, and also asking that, as many Midland towns are being seriously penalised financially by being required to take coal from outside their geographical area, compensation may be paid; and whether he will indicate the steps that he intends to take in dealing with these matters?

My attention has been drawn to the meeting referred to. As regards the question of supplies to gas works in the Midland area, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Oxford on the 24th March. I cannot recognise any claim for compensation for extra cost arising out of the present abnormal conditions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the present restrictions on the exportation of coal are likely to be removed?

I am afraid the possibility of removing the present restrictions on the export of coal is not yet within measurable distance.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that great inconvenience is caused in Harrow Weald by the shortage of coal supplies owing to the fact that Mr. A. C. Day, with whom a large proportion of the consumers are registered, is unable to obtain supplies of coal; and whether he will take steps to ensure a regular and adequate supply to the householders in that district?

I am aware of the circumstances mentioned, and I am advised that steps have already been taken to meet the present difficulty and to provide for future requirements.

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the fact that the Out-of-Work Donation for ex-service men ceases on the 31st March, if he will state what steps he proposes to take to provide for the needs of these men, especially those who are partially disabled, between the end of this month and the probable coming into operation at the latter end of the year of the benefits under the Unemployment Insurance Bill?

It is proposed to extend the Out-of-Work Donation so as to permit of a further grant of donation to ex-service men not exceeding 12 weeks in the aggregate from the end of March to the end of July next.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is intended to erect new premises for the Navy and Army Canteens Board at Aldershot; if so, whether he can state the necessity for this building, in view of the fact that the garrison at Aldershot has diminished since the Armistice; and whether, in view of the shortage of labour for the housing programme of the Government, he will give directions that this building be not proceeded with?

In order that the business of the Navy and Army Canteens Board may be placed on an economic basis when on a peace footing, it has been decided to conduct the business for practically the whole of the Southern Command from Aldershot. This necessitates the erection of a central warehouse and offices in the latter town in place of other accommodation at Portsmouth and elsewhere which is being vacated.The plans of the new buildings have been reduced to a minimum in order to economise labour and material, and are not now more than sufficient to provide accommodation for the staff and stores necessary to keep the troops supplied.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he can state the amount of duty paid on imported and British matches up to the end of February 1920?

I should prefer not to anticipate the particulars of the Revenue for the current year, which are given in the Budget statement.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether he is aware that the Tavistock ruridecanal chapter propose to sell their glebe land by public auction, and that the Devon County Council have threatened to interfere with the sale, under powers conferred upon them by the Acquisition of Land Act, 1919, in order that they may purchase the land for themselves at a private valuation; and whether the county council will have the support of the Ministry of Agriculture in attempting to acquire land at less than the amount which the land might be expected to realise if sold in the open market?

I presume that the Noble Lord refers to the Glebe Land at Peter Tavy. I am informed that in this case the County Council did not receive the usual notice of the Rector's intention to sell, and inasmuch as there is an urgent need of land for the settlement of ex-Service men in this parish, the Council made an Order for compulsory purchase, but informed the Incumbent that it would not be necessary formally to proceed with the Order if he were prepared to negotiate with them for the sale of the land. The Incumbent has been asked to submit the names of three independent valuers in order that a price may be settled by agreement, and there is no suggestion that the land is to be acquired by the Council at less than its full market value.

asked the First Commissioner of Works, inasmuch as the use of the Royal Parks was only granted to the several Departments now-using them as a temporary war measure, when he proposes to dismantle the buildings erected there and restore the free and unrestricted use of such parks to the public; and whether the Departments in question pay any rent or have any authority to erect practically permanent buildings in them?

I would refer the I hon. and gallant Member to the answer given on the 25th February last to a similar question asked by the hon. Member for Southwark Central, of which I am sending him a copy. I regret that at the present time I can add nothing to that answer. The Departments in question do not, of course, pay rent for the accommodation, nor have they any authority to erect buildings in the Royal Parks. The existing buildings were erected by my Department.