§ MR. WELBYasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether a site for the new depôt centre at Lincoln has been purchased other than that hitherto used by the Militia, and offered for sale to the Government by the county authorities; and, whether ample space, together with the other most important requirements for a depôt centre, might not have been obtained by the purchase of the county Militia buildings and adjoining land at Grantham; and also, 1707 whether the Government will recommend that, by a Grant out of the Consolidated Fund or otherwise, some compensation shall be given to counties which, having been forced during the last few years into very heavy expenditure upon buildings for the protection of arms and other national property, will now have them thrown upon their hands, and incur serious loss in disposing of them for purposes for which they were not originally intended?
§ MR. CARDWELLSir, the engagement into which Her Majesty's Government entered on this subject was this. We said that in any district where the county buildings were suitable for the purpose we would purchase them, if they could be obtained at a reasonable price; and that in districts where they were not suitable we should place them at the disposal of the county, to sell them for their own advantage, and build for ourselves the local centre necessary for the scheme. In the case of Lincolnshire, it is reported that the buildings are not suitable, and that the price asked is out of proportion to their value to the Department. Arrangements are in progress for the purchase of land at Lincoln. I have no intention of proposing any payment to the county out of the Consolidated Fund.