asked the President of the Local Government Board how many houses have been built, or how many foundations have been laid, under the auspices of the Government or the municipal authorities since the signing of the Armistice?

A number of housing schemes have been approved subject to tenders being obtained. As the hon. Member knows, the terms of financial assistance to local authorities were not finally settled until 6th February, and the difficulties consequent upon the War in securing skilled labour and building materials have made building operations on any large scale impossible until quite recently. A large number of schemes are now in course of preparation by local authorities, and will be carried out as rapidly as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the propriety of taking appropriate action to ensure a uniform system of requisite maximum and even lighting of main thoroughfares to be gradually reduced at junctions of roads to a uniform lesser lighting of connecting roads, and similarly a graduated lighting from connecting roads to residential and small traffic roads, and will he state if any action is proposed to be taken by his Department for co-ordinating and controlling a complete scheme of public lighting within the Metropolitan area in respect of consumption of fuel and price?

The Board of Trade have no power of control over public lighting as regards either the nature and amount of the lighting or the expenditure on it. These are matters which have been entrusted to the responsible local authorities, and as to which the Board cannot appropriately take action.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will arrange for the suspension of renewed fees for patents applied for and granted from June, 1914, till the date when metal may be freely used by consent of the Minister of Munitions, providing the patentee can give proof that the patented device could not be made owing to the restriction on raw materials?

Provision has already been made by means of Rule 3 (a) of the Patents Designs and Trade Marks (Temporary) Rules, 1914, for the extension of the time within which such fees should be paid in all cases where the failure to pay the fees arise from circumstances in connection with the state of War.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether the Board of Education offices in Whitehall were partly evacuated for reoccupation by the Board of Education but that some other Government Department have taken possession of them; and, if so, when these premises will be again ready for occupation by the officials of the Board of Education so that that part of the Victoria and Albert Museum at present occupied by officials may become available for the proper arrangement and exhibition of the national art collection?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, with the exception of three rooms temporarily occupied by the Local Government Board. As regards the last part of the question, I am unable to state when the return of the staff of the Board of Education to their old quarters can be effected, as that is entirely dependent on a sufficient contraction of the staff of the Controller of the Navy, which is at present in occupation of a very large portion of the accommodation previously in use by the Board of Education. This question is, however, receiving the close attention of the War Cabinet Committee on Accommodation, and every effort will be made to rehouse the Board of Education in the new public offices extension building at as early a date as possible.