asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has any information with regard to the recent disturbances at Jamalpur, in the North-West Provinces; what was the cause of the disturbance; whether strikers were fired on by the troops; if so, whether there were any casualties among the troops or among the strikers; and whether any form of inquiry will be held into the occurrence?

The hon. and gallant Member no doubt refers to the recent disturbances at the Tata ironworks at Jamshedpur, in the Province of Bihar and Orissa, erroneously reported in the newspapers as having taken place at Jamalpur. The strike, which was declared towards the end of February, involved some 30,000 workers. Disturbances began on the 13th March, when determined and well-organised attempts were made by armed bodies of strikers to prevent those who wished to attend work. The factory was besieged and troops escorting a motor lorry bringing food to workers were attacked. The Deputy-Commissioner of the district was able to avert a collision, but picketing continued and no workmen were allowed to enter the works. On the morning of the 15th it was discovered that the railway lines had been tampered with, and the Deputy-Inspector-General of Police ordered two parties of mounted police to arrest the offenders, with instructions not to fire unless in self-defence. About forty arrests were made, but the prisoners were rescued and a large mob of strikers' then attacked the police, who were compelled to fire in self-defence. Mr. Ashby and several police were seriously injured, five of the crowd being killed and 21 wounded, The police fell back on the works and fired only when closely pressed. The injured were taken to hospital for treatment The situation then improved rapidly, and on the 17th 2,000 men had resumed work. An announcement by the directors seems to have had a favourable effect, and my latest information is that on the 18th 15,000 men had returned to work, the rest being expected to return on the 20th.

Will there be any form of inquiry held into the occurrence as asked for in the last part of my question?

The facts will certainly be investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether two of four Germans interned from Bangalore have been exempted from repatriation; if so, whether any other Germans have been exempted in like manner; and whether, in view of the mischief done by German missionaries and others in India, the policy of exclusion will be strictly enforced?

An official communique appears in the Indian papers regarding the two Germans referred to. It is stated that one of them had resided in India for 34 years and the other for 27 years, that both, had severed all connection with their native country, were married to British-born wives and had daughters married to British officers. Other Germans have been exempted from repatriation for very special reasons. Inquiries have already been made as to the number. The Government of India have every intention of enforcing the policy of exclusion strictly.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to a speech delivered at Woking on 21st March, by Mr. Mohammed Ali, leader of the Indian Khalifat delegation, in which the speaker declared that if England fought the Turks on the question of the temporal powers of the Khalif then the Indian Moslems must fight on the side of the Turks, and that they did not want it, but they must fight for their religion; and whether he intends to take any action with regard to such speeches?

I do not propose to take any action.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that his action in closing the fishing grounds in the vicinity of Galloper Sands to British trawlers is causing much concern in fishing circles, seeing that the French vessels are not so restricted; and if the closure is intended to be permanent?

With the hon. Member's permission, the reply to his question will be published in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many chief petty officers and petty officers, respectively, have applied for voluntary discharge; and how many have been granted this discharge?

It has not been possible to grant free discharge to chief petty officers or petty officers of the seaman branch except in special cases where great hardship would have been caused by refusing discharge. The numbers who have been granted free discharge on compassionate grounds since 1st October, 1919, are:

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the proportions between the coal and oil fuel, respectively, which it is intended or expected will be expended by His Majesty's Navy during the current financial year, and the coal and oil fuel expended during the year 1913?

It is not considered desirable to furnish the information asked for.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is now in a position to make any further statement as to the future of the Royal Naval Reserves?

My right hon. Friend regrets that he has nothing to add to the statement already made by him on this subject.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, according to the Regulations of the Local Technical Advisory Committee for the London area of the printing and allied trades, only 50 disabled sailors and soldiers can be absorbed per annum; whether such Regulations only allow disabled men with previous knowledge of the trade to be put into training; and whether this last restriction is in direct contradiction to Regulation L.A.C. 92–2?

It is correct that only about 50 ex-Service men per annum are being accepted for training in the London area for the printing and allied trades, but the present facilities for training in these trades would not admit of a much larger influx. Until recently, the Local Technical Advisory Committee in question required candidates to have had some previous connection, although perhaps only of a remote character, with the trade. This requirement has, however, now been waived, and the last part of the hon. Member's question does not therefore arise.

May I ask if it is a fact that 40,000 men were employed in these trades in pre-war days, and whether he thinks it satisfactory that only 50 disabled soldiers and sailors can be absorbed per annum?

I cannot give an opinion on that point.

further asked the Minister of Labour whether, according to the regulations of the Local Technical Advisory Committee of the London area for the brush-making trade, no disabled sailor or soldier can be trained for such trade by any firm unless all present employees of the firm are working full time; that the trainee is to take the place of an employee lost by the firm through the War owing to death or disablement; and that such firm is to guarantee the trainee employment on the completion of his training?

The Local Technical Advisory Committee in the brush-making trade for the London area have not laid down any general regulations to the effect that no ex-Service men can be trained for the trade by any firm where full time is not being worked. The special report governing training in this trade lays down that, as a general rule, men should not be sent for training to firms who have not lost men by death or disablement during the War, but allows for this rule being relaxed. So far as the London area is concerned, the question of restriction on this ground has only arisen as regards one particular branch of the industry when the restrictive clause was waived by the Committee and 24 men sent for training to the firm concerned. I am not aware that the Committee require a guarantee from the firm giving the training that they will employ the man at the end of his training, but the hon. Member will appreciate that the question of the after-employment of the men trained should rightly be borne in mind by the Committee.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Local Technical Advisory Committee of the electric light and power industry has limited the number of disabled sailors and soldiers allowed to be trained per annum for that industry to 113 in the London area; whether the existing training facilities in the London polytechnics have been declared insufficient for 73 men who have been in training for nearly a year; whether it has been laid down that under no conditions may men be trained by a private firm and that no man over 27 years of age is eligible; whether 17,000 men were employed in this industry before the War in London alone; and whether there is any justification for the restrictions imposed, in view of the great demand for skilled labour in electrical industries?

The facts are substantially as stated by the hon. Member. I do not consider the restrictions imposed are justifiable and consequent upon the amalgamation of the National Committees in Engineering and Electricity respectively. I propose to ask the new Joint Local Committee for London to enquire into the whole matter with a view to the removal of unreasonable restrictions.

Will my hon. and gallant Friend draw the attention of the Minister of Labour to the fact that naval electricians are being prevented from joining the trade unions, although they are better qualified in every way than many of the trade unionists?

I will see that that is brought to my right hon. Friend's notice.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Local Technical Advisory Committee of the boot and shoe industry has limited the number of disabled sailors and soldiers allowed to be trained for that industry to 100 per annum in the London area; whether only men with one leg amputated are eligible; whether such men may only be trained in the highest class of West End boot-making; whether the age limit has been fixed at 35; and whether, in view of the fact that 20,000 men were employed in this industry before the war in London alone, these restrictions can be removed or at least modified?

No hard and fast limit to the number of ex-service men to be trained in the boot and shoe industry in the London Area has been fixed by the Local Technical Advisory Committee concerned. In order to avoid overcrowding the trade and in view of its particular suitability for men only capable of sedentary work, the Committee have, however, thought it advisable to restrict acceptance to men with severer disabilities, generally reserving vacancies for men with leg amputations, but considering other serious disabilities on their merits. The training given is designed to fit the men to earn the highest wages current in the trade, but the employment is not restricted to the West End. While the Committee are generally reluctant to accept men over the age of 35, since they consider that men over this age are not usually likely to become efficient at the work, exceptions are made in suitable cases.

Can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman tell me how many disabled men have been trained for these trades?

No, I cannot.

Can he say why the Government do not employ these men direct in the manufacture of boots and shoes for the Army and Navy?

No, I cannot.

The trade unions would not let them.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state how many discharged soldiers and sailors are at present in public asylums; and if it is intended to provide any other accommodation for these men?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The number is about 4,000. As regards the second part of the question, so far as I am aware, there is no intention to provide other accommodation for these men, and I am advised that there would be serious objections to treating these cases in special establishments. The hon. Member will find the matter discussed in the Report of the Board of Control for 1917. There is also the important point that under the present arrangements it is possible in many cases to transfer the patient to an asylum closer to his relatives, and a large number of applications for such transfers have been received.

Are not many of these cases not really very serious, and likely to return to complete sanity if they were put into more suitable accommodation?

I do not think that follows. I think they are receiving the best possible treatment likely to lead to their recovery.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether instructions have been issued that ex-Service men training at Ingham Horticultural Institute, near Statham, Norwich, to the effect that all trainees drawing £2 or over must sign a stamped receipt, the trainee finding the stamp for this purpose; and, if so, will he state the reason for this action?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The hon. Member is, no doubt, aware that stamped receipts are required on all transactions of £2 or over, under the Stamp Act of 1891.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether he can supply any literature or memoranda showing the progress made in the settlement of ex-service men on the land, the general conditions of the scheme, the amount of land taken over, and the average rent charged?

I am sending the hon. Member a Memorandum recently issued to the Press, which shows the progress made in regard to the settlement of ex-service men on the land, together with copies of two booklets entitled "Land Settlement in the Mother Country," which contain information as to the general conditions of the scheme. The rents charged for holdings provided under the scheme are fair rents based on the present value of the land. The rent is approved by the Ministry in each case, but, as the value of land varies considerably in England and Wales, any figure as to the average rent charged would be misleading.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any applications for settlement in farm colonies can now be received, or whether all ex-soldiers are referred to the County Council?

Will it be made possible for every Member of the House to be acquainted with that pamphlet?

Certainly I do not propose to send it round to every hon. Member, but if any hon. Member likes to apply for it, I will gladly send it to him. With reference to the question of my hon. Friend (Mr. Raffan), the applications for farm colonies are not closed. We have lately bought a considerable amount of additional land for the purpose, and men are now being settled on it.

asked the Minister of Health if he can state the number of houses purchased under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Act for the years 1913 and 1919?

Information as to the number of houses purchased under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Act in 1913 arid 1919 is not available, but loans amounting to £76,745 in 1913 and £5,598 in 1919 were sanctioned to local authorities for the purpose of enabling them to make advances under the Act.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the case of Messrs. W. S. Taylor and Company, sack mer- chants and hydraulic packers, who have been tenants of premises in Liverpool for over 20 years; is he aware that they have fitted up several heavy hydraulic packing cases, together with other plant and machinery requiring expensive concrete foundations; that the rent payable by them up to May, 1916, was £315, which was then increased to £450 for three years; that on the 1st June, 1919, it was raised to £600, and on the 1st October, 1919, to £900 for one year to 30th September, 1920; that notice terminating the tenancy on 30th September next has now been received, with a notification that a rent of at least £1,600 will be required for another year, which may on expiry be further increased; and that it is impossible for the firm to find other premises suitable for their trade or to bear such an increase to standing charges; and whether, in view of the large staff employed by the firm, he will draw the special attention of the committee now considering the rent restrictions to this particular case?

I am informed that the firm in question have communicated directly with the Committee.

Will my right hon. Friend consider the desirability of introducing a Clause into the new Bill which would give the tenants, without limitation of small rents, the right of appeal, say, to a Judge of the High Court?

That suggestion, along with many others, is being considered by the Committee which is now sitting.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that tradesmen are being compelled to pay extortionate rents in order to retain their shops, and whether he will bring in a measure which will give them the benefit of the Rent Restriction Acts?

I can only refer to the answer which I gave the hon. Member for Blackley (Mr. Briggs) on Thursday last, of which I will send him a copy

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any indication as to when the Committee is likely to report?

I know the Report is in draft, and I hope it will be available very shortly.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is the greatest hardship on small shopkeepers in all parts of the country, who are being practically held up to ransom and having increased rents placed upon them; that after they have built up a business in certain premises the landlord is taking advantage of that to raise the rent of this type of property?

It is for the consideration of those hardships that the Committee was appointed.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these hardships are not confined to small shopkeepers, but that large manufacturers are being victimised in the same way, and will he bring specially before this Committee the question of removing restrictions on rents?

The hon. Member should give notice of that question.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that Scottish slag cement is procurable at a price of about £2 per ton less than English cement; whether he is aware that this Scottish slag cement is quite suitable for use in the construction of the foundations of houses being built in Scotland; and whether he will arrange with the Director of Supplies that this cement be placed at the disposal of Scottish local authorities, some of which have based their estimates upon the lower cost of the Scottish cement?

I have been asked to reply. The reply to the first two parts of the question is yes, Sir. With regard to the third part of the question, the only two slag cement firms in Scotland were both approached without result in October last for the supply of materials for the Government Housing Schemes. One of the firms were unable to accept orders, owing to their entire output being booked for months ahead, and the other firm were suffering from the effects of a collapse of their kilns. Negotiations have now been resumed with these firms and it is hoped that a definite proportion of the output of slag cement will be secured for housing in Scotland.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the great delay in the erection of houses for the workers in the city of Belfast; whether he will take immediate action to expedite this work; and whether he will see that the houses erected will be up to the standard of the Local Government Board requirements as laid down by the Housing Act of last year?

My hon. Friend may rest assured that the erection of houses for workmen in the city of Belfast will be pushed forward with as much expedition as possible, and that suitable houses will be erected up to a suitable standard.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether a single house has been erected?

I think a great number would have been erected, but a great deal of time has been occupied by discussion as to the standard of house, and I have now sanctioned a grant to the Corporation.

When will the period of discussion end, and the period of action commence?

The period of discussion is now ended.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that at the inquest on the murder of the late Lord Mayor of Cork, Alderman MacCurtain, the Crown Counsel, Mr. Wylie, stated that the late Lord Mayor was universally respected and had continuously, both in public and in private, denounced crime; whether the first witness called on behalf of the police was a district inspector, who testified that the competent military authority had ordered the arrest of this gentleman, and that the arrest was to have taken place on the night of his murder; whether he can state what charge was to have been preferred against him; and whether he was to have been deported and imprisoned without trial?

I am afraid I can add nothing to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave on Monday last to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull, except that I am informed that it was proposed to arrest him under the Defence of the Realm Regulations. I have, however, called for a further report from Ireland.

Was it intended to deport him also?

I think it is better to await the report before dealing with that.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the total number of prisoners now interned in British prisons under the Defence of the Realm Act?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The number is 102.

Does that include the number who are imprisoned in Ireland? If not, will the hon. and gallant Gentleman give us the number for Ireland?

The question on the Paper refers to this country.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland when he intends to introduce the promised measure to give Irish plotholders security of tenure and grants similar to those enjoined under the English and Scotch Allotments Acts?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave to his question on this subject on the 18th instant, and to which I have nothing to add.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is the intention to place the tenants of these plots on the same footing of tenants in England?

The War Emergency Act has placed them on the same footing for this year.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the Ministry of Health is now making grants-in-aid of services for the blind in Great Britain, and that their Lordships of the Treasury have promised to ask Parliament to vote an interim grant of £12,000 for services carried on for the benefit of the blind in Ireland; and if he will state when the House will be asked to sanction this amount?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the latter part, a Supplementary Estimate for the current financial year makes provision, amounting to £7,000, for the payment of instalments of grants at a rate not exceeding 50 per cent of the estimated grants for the year.

asked when the moneys derivable from sales of estates under the Wyndham Act, dating as far back as 1906, will be paid?

Sales under the Wyndham Act in respect of which advances have not yet been made amount to about £11,500,000, of which £11,250,000 will be payable in cash, and the balance in guaranteed 2¾ per cent. stock. Advances in those cases are being made continuously in accordance with the priority regulations, and assuming that cash is placed at the disposal of the Estates Commissioners by the Government as required, and provided that vendors comply with the requirements of the Commissioners as to title and other matters, without unnecessary delay, the Commissioners anticipate that the advances in these pending sales will be completed within three years.

asked whether the Government are prepared to facilitate and finance a scheme of emigration by Colonies for such loyalists of the South and West of Ireland as may desire to leave that part of the country through apprehension of the results to themselves in the event of the Irish proposals of the Government becoming operative, and to compensate them for their losses?

I hope that this contingency may not arise, but if it does, it is obviously a proposal that would require grave and serious consideration

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to suggest to the hon. Member who put this question that, owing to the fearful intolerance with which he has been treated in Dublin ail his life, he should emigrate?

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the man who was shot in Exchequer Street, Dublin, on the 24th instant, was identified by the police as bearing the name of Molloy; whether, in fact, this name was correct; whether there was any deliberate concealment of the real name; if so, can he state the reason; and whether the man had at one time been in the Dublin Metropolitan Police?

This man was identified by the military authorities as Bryan Fergus Molloy, under which name he enlisted, and, as far as is known, this was his correct name. He was at no time a member of the Dublin Metropolitan Police.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the number of dismissals of civilian clerks employed at the Royal Artillery and Royal Field Artillery Records, Woolwich; whether he is aware that these men volunteered their services when the country was in need, being unfit for military service, and that these positions are now being filled up by Regular soldiers; whether he can state if it is the policy of the Army Council to staff these offices with Regular soldiers; and whether he will give this matter his consideration in view of the amount of distress which will be caused by these dismissals?

The policy of the Department is to employ disabled and demobilised soldiers wherever possible. The number of civilian clerks employed in military record offices is reduced from time to time by substitution or in proportion to the decrease of work in the offices. All Regular soldiers employed in the office mentioned have left or will have been demobilised or discharged by the end of April. There are, however, seven surplus Battery Sergeant-Majors at present temporarily employed.

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware that M. Lenin, of Russia, and a train consisting of 15 cars, called Lenin's car, recently returned to Moscow after a tour on the western part of the Soviet Republic; that during this tour there were circulated more than half a million roubles' worth of books, papers, and pamphlets; that 150,000 proclamations and reports were delivered free; that 1,500 posters were displayed; that 556 organisations were supplied with various publications; that about 60 lectures were organised on various topical questions at which about 100,000 workers, peasants, and soldiers of the Red Army attended; and that similar trains are being prepared for all parts of Russia; and whether the Government have considered the advisability of adopting a similar policy with a view to circulating books, pamphlets, and reports giving the true position and explaining to the people what Socialism means, so that they will be able to distinguish the difference between Bolshevism, Communism, and Syndicalism?

His Majesty's Government have no authentic information about the propaganda being carried on by the Bolsheviks in Russia. With regard to the last part of the question the Government are not prepared to adopt a policy of the kind indicated.

Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to carry out quieter educational methods without adopting the methods of Lord George Sanger?

We are carrying out quieter methods.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the Midland division coal supplies were 8,000 tons short the first 11 weeks of this year compared with a similar period last year; whether the London area has received more than 100,000 tons for the same period in excess of that supplied in 1919; and if he can announce what steps he is taking to relieve the position of householders?

I am aware that the Midland Division coal supplies were smaller and that the supplies to the London area were greater during the first 11 weeks of this year as compared with a similar period of last year, but the reserve stocks held in the Midland division at the beginning of this year were very much greater and in the London area considerably smaller than at the beginning of last year. The question of supplies to the Midland division is receiving attention.

Is it not a fact that the real difficulty in the Midlands as regards coal supplies is that the steps taken by the Coal Controller have resulted in too much coal being sent to London and not sufficient kept in the Midlands?

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there is a very serious shortage of coal for domestic purposes in Belfast in consequence of which the working classes are suffering great hardships and there has been a considerable increase in the number of deaths of children, due mainly to the want of coal for heating purposes in the homes of the people; and whether he will take steps to have the supply of coal for domestic purposes in Belfast increased?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 25th March to a question on this subject asked by the hon. Member for the Ormeau Division of Belfast. The claims of Belfast and the North of Ireland have not been overlooked, and a substantial proportion of the additional supplies sent to Ireland has been allocated to Belfast. I am advised that some of the Welsh coal being sent is not unsuitable for household purposes, but in any case local arrangements are in operation to substitute Welsh coal unsuitable for household purposes for bituminous coal at present used for other than household purposes, setting free the latter for domestic consumption.

Has the hon. Gentleman received a communication from the Co-operative Society of Belfast, and will he give the matter favourable consideration?

I have not received the communication.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the 10s. per ton reduction in domestic coal made by the Board of Trade on 28th November, 1919, applies to coal mined in Ireland?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the quantity of coal exported from the United Kingdom to Iceland in the period from 1st January to 15th March, 1920; whether during this period there were exported to Sweden 396,309 tons, to Norway 308,607 tons, to the Netherlands 119,891 tons, and to Austria and Hungary 49,768 tons; whether he has received information that Iceland is now so short of coal that not only are the fisheries, which is the main industry of the island, in serious jeopardy, but also the bakers of Reykjavik have insufficient stocks to ensure the bread supplies; and, if so, whether he can undertake to release 2,000 tons of coal for immediate export to Iceland?

The quantity of coal exported from the United Kingdom to Iceland in the period from 1st January to 15th March, 1920, was 215 tons; the figures for the other countries mentioned were given in the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend on the 29th March. I understand there is an acute shortage of coal in Iceland, but, subject to special priorities in favour of coaling stations and certain allied countries, there is now a free market in the exportable surplus of British coal. Distribution is governed by commercial conditions, and in those circumstances I regret that no special provision can be made for Iceland. It will be realised that the world shortage of coal is affecting all parts of Europe and not Iceland alone.

Is it not a fact that the Iceland Government is being prevented by the orders of the Coal Controller from buying Scotch coal and shipping it to Iceland?

The exportable surplus is not enough to go round, and Iceland is suffering like many other places.

Cannot they get coal from Spitzbergen?

asked the Minister of Transport whether a deputation was received from the National Cyclists' Union on 23rd March to urge that the doubly increased railway rates on bicycles accompanied by passengers be reduced; whether, in spite of his assurance in Parliament that he would do whatever he could to meet them, the deputation were informed that nothing can be done for the present; and whether, if he has no power over the Rates Advisory Committee, he will use his good offices to expedite the reconsideration of the rates on cycles and thus relieve the thousands of people who use their bicycles for recreation and are anxious to avoid the roads in the congested and thickly populated parts?

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that cyclists in the North of England complain at the second increase of 50 per cent. in the carriage of cycles in trains; is he aware of other goods only being increased by 50 per cent.; and, if so, will he take steps to restrict the increase to 50 per cent. in the case of cyclists?

I would refer the hon. Members to the answer given to a similar question put by the hon. Member for Spelthorne on the 25th March.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the fact that farmers in the area of Southminster, Essex, are experiencing difficulty in getting their hay loaded on rail, and that hundreds of tons are already tied out but that the railway company will not accept anything other than perishable goods; whether he is aware that Southminster is an important station and serves a very big district, and that these restrictions are having a very serious result; and whether he will take steps to assist the farmers and their customers in this dilemma?

During the past week 60 wagons have been provided at Southminster for the purpose of loading hay. There is no foundation for the statement that nothing but perishables can be loaded, although the latter are given preference. The railway company are doing all possible to supply wagons for this traffic, which formerly went by water for the most part.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions if his attention has been called to the order of the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) of 12th February last prohibiting the formation of any clubs in Carlisle without the sanction of the Board; and if he will say how many members of the Board were present when the Order was made?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Silvertown on the 15th instant.

asked the Minister of Food whether his attention has been called to the complaint in reference to the amount of sugar allotted to the Maldon and Heybridge Co-operative Society, Limited, for manufacturing purposes (confectionery); whether the allotment is based on the reduced 1915 usage, i.e., 56 lbs. per month; whether he, is aware that in 1914, and during the whole of 1915, the bakery of the society was being used mainly for the supply of bread to the troops in the town and district, with the result that the confectionery business had to be closed; whether the society, having during the War placed its bakery at the service of the authorities, to the detriment of its members, is now penalised for that action; and whether the department will redress the grievance?

The attention of the Food Controller had not been drawn to the complaint referred to. Allotments of sugar to manufacturers are in the ordinary course based upon the quantity used in the year 1915. Enquiry is, however, being made with a view to re-adjustment, if it can be proved that the general regulation operates unfairly in this particular case.

asked the Minister of Food if he has received representations from agricultural and dairying interests on milk prices during the spring and summer and, in that case, what these in substance are, and whether he has yet arrived at any decision on the subject?

The Food Controller has received no representations from agricultural and dairying interests with regard to milk prices in the spring and summer of this year. There is no present intention of reimposing control over the price of milk.

asked the President of the Board of Education why it is that supplementary teachers have for many years been and still are recognised as forming part of the teaching staff and yet are excluded from the benefits accruing to the teaching profession, namely, the pension scheme and the Burnham scale?

A supplementary teacher is only recognised in connection with a particular school. Her recognition is subject to reconsideration from year to year and may be withdrawn at any time. These teachers are not regarded, and have no qualifications entitling them to be regarded, as regular members of the teaching profession.