§ MR. FIRTHasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether there is any truth in a rumour current in Western London, and which has been recently made the subject of an official report to the Vestry of Chelsea, to the effect that it is in contemplation to remove or abolish Chelsea Hospital; and, if so, whether the hospital gardens will be preserved for the use and recreation of the public; whether, in order to such preservation, it will be needful for them to be purchased on behalf of the public; and, whether, in this latter event, a right of pre-emption will be accorded to any public authority willing to purchase?
§ MR. CHILDERSSir, in reply to the hon. Member, I have to state that a Committee, of which Lord Morley is Chairman, and the Members of which I gave to the House on the 16th instant, is inquiring into the prospective effect of short service on the great pensioner establishments at Chelsea and Kilmainham and the two schools, the Duke of 293 York's and the Hibernian, for soldiers' children. I have not limited their inquiry; but I cannot conceive that they will recommend any restriction on the present use by the public of the hospital grounds at Chelsea, and certainly I should not confirm any proposal to that effect.