§ SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)To ask the First Commissioner of Works whether he will state what was the purchase price of the Embassy House in Madrid, and what it has since cost in repairs; and if, having regard to its position in the centre of the city and its insanitary condition with stabling in the basement, he will confer with the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs as to its sale and replacement by a house in the diplomatic quarter of the Castellana.
(Answer.) The premises were bought for £12,000. Since the purchase the maintenance of the building and furniture, exclusive of expenditure for sanitary and other special works and the supply of new furniture, has been about £5,000. At this date it is impossible to give the exact amount for repairs to the building. I propose to take an opportunity of conferring shortly with His Majesty's ambassador on the question raised by my hon. and gallant friend.—(Office of Works.)