§ CAPTAIN HOPE (Linlithgow)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether it has come to the knowledge of the War Department that much of the ground acquired by the Government at Barry Links for the encampment of military forces (Regular and Reserve) is rendered practically inaccessible from the nearest railway stations, owing to the fact that the Government, while owning the land bounded on the north by the railway and on the south by the sea, have not acquired any right of access to that land from the north side of the railway; whether early steps will be taken to remedy the very great inconvenience caused by this state of matters; and whether it is the intention of the War Department to make roads suitable for the passage of wheeled traffic, to connect the various camping grounds on the Links; and, if so, when this will be done?
§ * MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThe War Department has no information that Barry Links are inaccessible as described, and no inconvenience has been reported. Roads for communication on the War Department land have been made to meet military requirements, and further roads would, no doubt, be made should they be found necessary.
§ * CAPTAIN HOPEIf I give the right hon. Gentleman information as to the considerable inconvenience caused, will he make inquiries? As a fact, one brigade, although only a mile from the railway station, had to send its baggage four miles round in order to get it on the rails.
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI shall be happy to receive such information. There may be accidental circumstances of that kind which possibly the Military Authorities did not think it worth while to communicate to the War Office.