§ MR. W. H. JAMESasked the Secretary of State for War, If the report in the Naval and Military intelligence of the "Times" of April 17th is correct, that an immense fort for the protection of Chatham Dockyard, the garrison, &c. is to be commenced forthwith on the main road between Chatham and Maidstone; and, whether, in addition to this fort and another already under construction at Birstal near Rochester, several others are to be constructed; and, if he will state what are the grounds of these special military defensive propositions?
MR. CHLLDERSSir, in reply to my hon. Friend, I have to state that the Royal Defence Commission, in 1860, recommended the expenditure of £500,000 on the works required for the eastern land defence of Chatham. In 1872 these works were settled, and were to consist of a fort and its accessories at Birstall, another at Horstead, and a third on Darland Hill. It was also then decided that these works should be constructed by convict labour, at a reduced expense to the War Department of £200,000, and the Home Department erected a convict prison for this purpose. The Birstall works are in progress, the main fort being two-thirds completed; Horstead is just commenced, at an expense of £45,000; but nothing has been done beyond the acquisition of the necessary land, at Darland Hill. As to the ground for these defensive works, I can only refer my hon. Friend to the Report of the Royal Commission.
§ MR. CHILDERSreplied, that they were all being built by convict labour.
§ MR. W. H. JAMESsaid, that he would take the earliest available opportunity of moving a reduction of the Vote relating to those fortifications.