§ Mr. THOMAS-STANFORDasked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that, with a view to increasing the food supply of the district, the corporation of Brighton is anxious to lay on a supply of water to allotments adjoining mains; that application has been made for a priority certificate for 130 yards of lead pipe and refused; and whether, permission having been granted for the purchase of the necessary taps, he will now grant permission for the purchase of the lead pipe also?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI am aware that the waterworks engineer to the corporation of Brighton applied in June last for 140 feet of ¾-in lead piping for use in connection with certain allotments. Owing to the shortage of lead for urgent war purposes lead piping had to be refused in this as in other cases. A priority certificate was, however, issued for gas piping, and upon it being explained by the engineer that that class of piping was too weak for the purpose required, the engineer was requested by letter on the 1st August last to state the type of iron pipe required and was promised a priority permit for the same. No reply to this letter has been received by the Ministry. I have no knowledge that any permission has been granted for the purchase of the taps referred to in the question, and am unable to trace that any application for such a permit has been made.