§ Mr. E. HARMSWORTHasked the President of the Board of Education whether he has received protests against the practice of the education committee of the Kent County Council in setting up and enlarging a Stores Department; whether he is aware that this department is conducted at considerable loss to the ratepayers and to the serious injury of private traders, who are well able to supply on an economical commercial basis all the goods required by the education committee; and, in view of the urgent need for economy in all public expenditure, what steps he proposes to take with the Kent education committee to put an end to this method of carrying on its business?
§ Mr. FISHERThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I am not aware that the Stores Department is conducted at a toss, and I have no authority to require the county council to discontinue it.