§ MR. W. MILLERsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, Whether he expects soon to be able to give a favourable reply to the various memorials which have been sent to the War Office during the last two or three years praying for the removal of the gunpowder stored at Leith Fort and Edinburgh Castle, the quantity in the magazine at the former place being said to amount to one hundred and thirty thousand pounds weight?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONsaid, in reply, that in consequence of the representations received from the municipal authorities of Edinburgh and Leith during the last year or two, the quantity of powder stored in Edinburgh Castle and Leith Fort had been considerably reduced. In Edinburgh Castle the quantity of gunpowder stored, with the exception of the small arms ammunition, which was much less liable to explosion than gunpowder in barrels, was exceedingly small. At Leith Fort it had not been found practicable to reduce the quantity to so great an extent; but it had been greatly reduced during the last two years. He had received Reports from the Officers of the Department with reference to the selection of other sites for the erection of magazines; but, inasmuch as the preparations for the erection of such buildings would occupy a considerable time, the matter had not been finally decided upon, pending the inquiries that were being made in reference to making gunpowder storage more safe. But if those inquiries had no successful result, he hoped that next year they would be able to recommend the erection of a new magazine.