asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will make the necessary arrangements for homebred and killed fresh meat to be issued to all units of the Royal Air Force; whether he is aware that through the Milk Marketing Board butter at 1s. 3d. per pound can be supplied through the agency of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes; and how soon can the existing contracts be terminated, in view of the urgent need to encourage the purchase of British agricultural products?

As regards the first part of the question, previous consideration has led to the conclusion that the cost of departing from the present practice of issuing Dominion frozen meat is prohibitive, and I regret that I cannot undertake to make the change suggested. As regards the second part, I fear that the use of home-produced butter as part of the airmans ration must also be ruled out on grounds of cost. As regards the third part, it follows that the question of terminating existing contracts does not arise, but none of them in fact requires notice of any exceptional length.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can give the House any information as to the Government's intentions of introducing legislation to deal with the recent decision of the Court of Appeal relative to the decontrolled houses under the Rents Restrictions Act?

I have not lost sight of the matter, but on the evidence before me I am not satisfied that any legislative action is called for.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can say to what firms orders for war-vessel construction were given during the years 1928 to 1935; and what was the value of the orders given to each firm n each year?

I regret that it is not practicable to furnish detailed information of this kind without an expenditure of time and labour which it would be difficult to justify at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies by what approximate date the Royal Commission now in Palestine is expected to complete the taking of evidence?

I am not in a position to give the information asked for.