§ MR. WOOTTON ISAACSONI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the deplorable fire at Exmouth on Monday last, by which father, mother, and three children were burnt to death owing to the inefficiency of the fire brigade, fire escapes, and fire engines; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made with the view of punishing those who are responsible for the mismanagement?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. MATTHEWS,) Birmingham, E.I am informed by the Chief Constable that the Coroner's Court which is inquiring into the fire at Exmouth stands adjourned till the 27th inst. Pending this inquiry, I am not in a position to say whether the deaths of the persons burnt were or were not caused through the inefficiency of the fire brigade escapes and engines.