§ Mr. DORISasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if his attention has been called to the food shortage, and particularly the flour scarcity, in Achill, county Mayo, resulting, according to the local medical officer, in a serious outbreak of disease amongst the children of the island, where food consists principally of inferior potatoes; whether, owing to flour shortage, many of the islanders are obliged to eat the potatoes which they intended to reserve for seed; and if he will state what steps the food control authorities have taken or intend taking to relieve the people by having a reasonable quantity of flour supplied to the local traders
§ Mr. DUKEI am glad to be able to state that the conditions of the Achill682W Islanders is not so bad as the hon. Member has been led to suppose. There has been a shortage of flour in some districts on account of difficulties of transport., but the potato supply has been plentiful. The Irish Food Control Committee made temporary arrangements for supplies of flour through the Irish Flour Millers' Association, and the Wheat Commission informs me that further supplies have been sent.