§ MR. BROOKFIELD (Sussex, Rye)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the present rates of pay authorised to keepers of licensed houses for the board and lodging of soldiers billeted upon them; at what period such rates of pay were originally decided upon, and whether they have of late years been revised or altered; and whether, before he next introduces the Army Act for renewal, he will consider the expediency of either improving the present rates of pay or extending the obligation to receive soldiers and their horses to the houses of any other persons besides those enumerated in Section 104 of 44 and 45 Vic. c. 58?
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. BRODRICK, Surrey, Guildford)The sum paid to the innkeeper until 1868 was 10d., from which sum it was raised to 1s. 4d. in 1873, and has remained at that amount since. From the known cost of supplies, which have fallen since 1873, there is every reason to believe that this sum affords a fair profit to the innkeeper, and the only complaint received has been from one innkeeper, who complained that he had been struck off the list for billets. The Secretary of State does not propose to introduce any change in the Army Act.