§ On bringing up the Report of the Committee of Supply,
§ SIR HENRY WILLOUGHBYsaid, he rose to ask the question of which he had given notice. He wished to know who was responsible for the large sums expended in huts and barracks? It appeared that in 1853 there was the sum of 1314 £250,000 expended for those purposes; in 1854, £175,000; and in 1855, £390,000—making in all a total of £815,000 for the huts of the United Kingdom alone. All that expenditure was independent of £290,000 for huts in the Crimea, and a further sum for barracks—making in all a total of about £1,600,000. The present sum demanded was £390,000. There had been an enormous outlay for huts at Aldershot. All that had created great dissatisfaction. He wished to ask the right hon. Gentleman the Clerk of the Ordnance who was responsible for these things, what would really be the expense, as far as was known, of the huts at Aldershot?
§ MR. MONSELLsaid, that out of £170,000 voted for the purpose of their establishment last year, only from £40,000 to £50,000 had been expended. There had not as yet been time to erect a sufficient number of huts. The amount voted in past years had been £285,000, to which there was the addition of £390,000 in the present year. There had been accommodation provided for 45,000 men and 3,000 horses, in addition to which accommodation was now being provided for 5,000 more, making in all accommodation for 50,000 men. In Aldershot there was not merely the expense of huts—it was a large establishment providing for the necessities of 20,000 men. There was the lighting, cleansing, draining, and sewerage of what he might call a large town, which it really was. It was for the convenience and safety of the country that this accommodation was provided, and it was impossible to act more wisely or economically under the circumstances.