HC Deb 09 March 1891 vol 351 cc574-5

Resolution [5th March] reported. That a sum, not exceeding £5,632,700, be granted to Her Majesty to defray the Charge of the Pay, Allowances, and other Charges of Her Majesty's Army at Home and Abroad (exclusive of India) (General Staff, Regiments, Reserve, and Departments), which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1892.

(12.17.) MR. SHAW LEFEVRE (Bradford, Central)

I desire to ask what the Government propose to do with regard to the Island of St. Helena? Is it intended to retain a force there? This will have an important bearing on a question I intend to raise later on, as to the continuance of Ascension Island as a military station. The Royal Com- mission on Colonial Defences, four years ago, recommended that the force at St. Helena should be retained, but that a force should not be retained at Ascension Island. A considerable amount has been expended on the force at St. Helena, but subsequently that policy was changed, and now there has been a second change of policy.

(12.19.) THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. E. STANHOPE,) Lincolnshire, Horncastle

There has been no change of policy. We are endeavouring to raise a local Militia at St. Helena. We have not done it yet, but as soon as we have done it we propose to reduce the garrison of Imperial forces.

(12.20.) MR. SHAW LEPEVRE

Is it not a fact that for two years attempts have been made to raise a Militia at St. Helena, but that, practically, there are no able-bodied men in the Island, all the people having gone to the African gold fields?

(12.21.) MR. E. STANHOPE

That is the position of those who do not want to see the Militia regiment raised. We do wish to see it raised, and think it possible to do it.

Resolution agreed to.