asked the President of the Local Government Board whether corridors in the offices of his Department have by means of glass partitions been converted into rooms; if so, whether these rooms and rooms in the basement are used for the accommodation of the higher or of the clerical staff; whether these rooms have been found healthy, or whether it is found that the trouble in satisfactorily ventilating them is the cause of sickness among the staff; and whether, in the interests of the staff, he will explain why partitioned corridors are used in preference to securing satisfactory accommodation outside?

The ends of some of the corridors in the office have been partitioned off for various purposes—for example, waiting-rooms—but none of these rooms, nor any rooms in the basement, are used for the accommodation of the higher or of the clerical staff.