§ SIR FREDERICK MILNERasked the Secretary of State for War, If it is the case that already more than four per cent. of the Troops now employed in the Soudan are sick; whether the Government are determined to leave the Troops in the Soudan all through the summer months; and, if it is the intention of the Government to complete the Railway from Suakin to Berber, as set out by the Secretary of State for War in his letter to General Graham of the 20th February?
§ MR. MACFARLANEasked if the noble Lord could tell the average amount of sickness among troops at home and in the British States abroad?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONI cannot state the average, as the Returns differ. In reply to the Question of the hon. Baronet, my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the War Office said on Friday that, from the circumstances in which the Force is now situated, it is scarcely possible to state the present percentage of sickness. On the whole, the health of the troops is good; but I think it is probable that the percentage of sick exceeds 4 per cent. The replies to the two latter Questions would be more conveniently given after the Prime Minister has made his statement with reference to the Vote of Credit.