asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is aware that it has been established by scientific re- search that sandbags, if treated with a preservative, are strengthened, have a much longer life, and are protected against bacterial mildew or insect attack and the liability to be gnawed by rodents; and whether he will consider the withdrawal of the circular he issued on the 18th May to local authorities, prohibiting them submitting the sandbags in their possession to a process of rot-proofing?