asked the Secretary of the Local Government Board, What stops are being taken to prevent the importation of adulterated articles of food into this country, and to relieve honest traders from their liability to conviction under the Act of last year for the sale of articles adulterated by the foreign producer, and on which Customs Duties have been paid?

Any proceedings for the purpose of preventing the importation of adulterated articles of food must, under the existing law, be taken by local authorities and not by the Government. With regard to the second part of the Question, many memorials have reached me complaining of the hardship inflicted on dealers, and especially on retail dealers, by the operation of the Adulteration Act of 1872. The Government have taken their complaints into consideration and have determined to ask the House to appoint a Select Committee to inquire into the subject. I propose to give Notice of a Motion to that effect on an early day.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to propose that the inquiry entrusted to the Select Committee on Civil Services Expenditure 1873 should be continued in the present Session of Parliament, in accordance with the recommendation of that Committee?

No, Sir, it is not the intention of Her Majesty's Government to propose that that inquiry should be continued.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If there has been any settlement of the dispute between the Egyptian Government and the Alexandria and Ramlegh Railway Company?

The Papers laid on the Table last year will show what was the state of the question at that time. Since then two letters have been addressed by the Directors of the Company to Lord Granville in September and October last. They do not materially affect the position of the controversy, and since that time there has been no change, as far as we know, in the state of affairs. No reference has been addressed on the subject to the present Government.

asked the First Commissioner of Works, What is the amount of the revised Contract for the erection of the Now Courts of Justice; and is there any objection to lay the Drawings upon the Library Table, for the inspection of Members?

, in reply, said, the contract with Messrs. Bull for the superstructure of the New Law Courts was £693,429. This sum did not include the expense of the fittings or works connected with warming, fighting, and ventilating the Courts. The total cost of these, with architect's commission and Clerk of Works' salary, would amount to £826,000. He regretted he could not place the drawings and plans of the Now Law Courts in the Library. The contract having been signed, these drawings, which amounted to 250 in number, were attached to and could not be detached from the contract, which was deposited in the Office of Works for safe custody; but if the hon. Member would favour him with a visit he would be happy to do his best to explain the plans.

asked the First Commissioner of "Works, What is the object of the iron-girded excrescence that has lately appeared on the roof of the National Gallery, and whether it is intended to be a permanent structure; and, if so, how it is proposed to conceal it?

, in reply, explained that the "excrescence" formed the dome of the Central Octagon Hall of the Galleries now in course of erection, and alluded to by the hon. Member for South Hampshire (Mr. Cowper-Temple) on Tuesday, and that it was therefore intended to be permanent. As to how long this dome should be visible from the street he must refer his hon. Friend to his two right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to ascertain what sum of money they were willing to allow him to re-model the present façade of the National Gallery and hide the "iron-girded excrescence" from view.