asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the dilapidated condition of No. 36, Kensington Square, the property of the Crown; and, in view of the historic interest attaching to this house, will he take steps to 'have it put and maintained in good order and repair?

The lease of this house contains the usual repairing covenants, and the external painting is due to be done next year. Meanwhile, I am advised that the condition of the premises is not such as to justify any action by the Commissioners of Crown Lands.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he has any information concerning the accident at Pelton Fell Colliery, Durham, whereby three men lost their lives on Tuesday last by the cage falling down the shaft; and whether he proposes to have an official inquiry into this accident?

I have received a preliminary report from the divisional inspector on the regrettable accident at Pelton Fell Colliery, Durham, on Tuesday last. It appears that the second outlet shaft (which is only used on rare occasions) was being used on that day by a small party of officials. During the lowering of the cage from a mid inset it caught and was suspended on the flange of a girder which supported the platform at the mid inset. The rope continued to be paid out and slack rope accumulated on the cage top and in the shaft. After a. short interval an attempt was made to get over the difficulty, but before the necessary steps could be taken the cage slipped off the girder and fell to the bottom of the shaft, the three persons then in it being killed. I propose to await the report of the inquest before deciding whether any further inquiry would be of value.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether, as the present pensions of naval officers were based partly on the cost-of-living figure, as calculated by the Ministry of Labour, and as this cost-of-living figure does not properly represent the living costs of retired officers, he will consider the advisability of evolving a special cost-of-living figure which will fairly reflect such costs?

No, Sir, as the Ministry of Labour cost-of-living index figure affects the remuneration of public servants generally, retired Naval officers cannot be regarded as a class having a claim for separate treatment in this respect.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, the total value of exports from Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the 10 years ended 31st December, 1931, respectively, to the Irish Free State, British India, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and Sweden; and the purchases per head of population by these countries, respectively, during the same period?

It is not possible to give complete particulars for the 10 years ended 31st December, 1931, as trade between the United Kingdom and the Irish Free State was not separately recorded prior to 1st April, 1923, But was part of the internal trade of the United Kingdom. The following table shows the aggregate declared value of the domestic exports of merchandise from the United Kingdom consigned to the countries specified during the years 1924 to 1931, together with the value per head of the population of the importing country.

asked the honourable Member for Rye as representing the Forestry Commissioners, how many plots of land for house-building purposes have been sold on the Crown land of the Forest of Dean; the average price per plot; and whether the Commissioners have any definite planning for this purpose for the future?

During the past five years 177 plots of land have been sold at an average price of £26 per plot and 19s. 6d. per perch. The Forestry Commissioners have no definite information as to how many of these plots have been used for house-building purposes. Consideration is given from time to time to the question of planning house-building development on definite blocks of land, and endeavours have been, and are being made to clear up the small isolated plots surrounded or partly surrounded by private property.

asked the Minister of Health what will be the approximate average Exchequer contribution per week up to 1980 in respect of each house built under the Housing Act, 1919, provided no alteration is made in present contractual arrangements?

The average Exchequer contribution up to 1980 is estimated at about 13s. per house per week.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons in receipt of outdoor public assistance in the administrative county of Lancashire on 12th November, 1931, and at the latest date at which figures are available; and similar information for Wigan and St. Helens?

The numbers of persons (men, women and children) in receipt of domiciliary poor relief in the areas mentioned on Saturday, 14th November, 1931, and on Saturday, 18th June, 1932 (the latest date for which figures are available) were as follow. Persons in receipt of domiciliary medical relief only are not included.