§ GENERAL SIR GEORGE BALFOURasked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether any sanction has been given to spend money on fortifications at Dover or at the end of Dover Pier, since the beginning of the years 1879–80 and 1880–81; and, if so, for what works and to what amount; and, what measures the Treasury intends to take to prevent money in excess of the loan for fortifications being exceeded, as, by the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor 1382 General dated 24th January 1881, appears likely, unless the Treasury takes prompt action to put an end to expenditure on fortifications under the Loan Act?
§ LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISHSums were voted in the Army Estimates for 1879–80 and 1880–81 for works on the Battery at the end of Dover Pier and in re-modelling Archcliff Redoubt, and I believe a further sum has been inserted in the Estimates for the coming year. It is probably to these works that my hon. and gallant Friend alludes in the first part of his Question. With regard to the second part, the Acts of Parliament which authorize fortification works to be defrayed out of moneys raised by loan only put a limited sum at the disposal of the Government, and the Government have no power to exceed that sum. These Acts appropriate the moneys to be borrowed to certain works; but give the War Office authority, with the consent of the Treasury, to vary that appropriation within the limits of the total sum granted. That authority has been exercised by the War Office, as is shown in the statement appended to the Report from which my hon. and gallant Friend quotes; but it has been exercised within the limits of the total sum granted, and we have no reason to believe that there will be any excess over the total sum granted.