§ SIR WILLIAM CROSSMAN (Portsmouth)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he will state the amounts that have been voted by the Colonial Legislatures of Hong Kong, Singapore, Ceylon, and Mauritius, for the defences of the coaling or naval stations in those Colonies; how much has been expended by the Imperial Government for the armaments of the defences of those stations; how much will be required to complete those armaments; how much has been expended by the Imperial Government on the other coaling stations for Her Majesty's Fleet abroad; and, how much will be required to complete the defences of those other stations?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)(who replied) said: I hope the hon. Member will understand that it is not desirable to give complete details as to the several stations; but I can say that the Legislatures of the Colonies named have voted £270,820 towards their defences. The Imperial Government, for the armament of those defences, has expended £183,530, and contemplates a further expenditure of £206,555. On other coaling stations the Imperial Government have spent £192,164, and expects to spend a further sum of £513,306.