§ SIR HERBERT MAXWELL (Wigton)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he has received information as to the alleged sanitary state of the infantry barracks at Capetown; whether so long ago as 25th November 1885, the Royal Scots had ten cases of typhoid fever, one of which was fatal; whether, notwithstanding representations as to the state of the drains and the abundance of loathsome vermin, the regiment was kept in these barracks until the month of March; and, whether they will be put in a thoroughly sanitary state before the next occupation?
THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN)&c.) (Stirling,There have been some cases of typhoid fever in the barracks at Cape Town; but, on the whole, the health of the troops has not been bad. The barracks are old, dilapidated, and quite unsuited for their purpose. It has been decided that money spent in improving the present structure would be thrown away, and such is the unhealthy condition of 437 the neighbourhood in which the barracks are that it is not considered desirable to erect new buildings there. Under these circumstances, measures will be pushed forward for providing accommodation for the greater portion of the troops at a healthier place—probably at Wynberg. Provision for this service is made in the Estimates of the present year.