§ MR. HANBURYI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War in how many barracks adequate washing accommodation for the private soldier exists, including the use of warm water once a day in winter; whether he is only allowed clean sheets once a mouth, and clean blankets once a year, and how this system compares with that in workhouses: and whether the rooms in which they sleep are usually also the eating rooms, or in how many barracks separate dining rooms exist?
§ * MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANIn all barracks there is washing accommodation for the private soldier, but hot water is not supplied at the public expense to ablution and bath rooms, except in those barracks where recruits are received. There hot baths are provided as required. In the new barracks, however, at Aldershot flues have been lot into the walls of the kitchens, and baths are supplied by regimental arrangements. The soldiers' sheets are washed monthly, though he gets one (dean sheet each fort-night, and his blankets yearly. Each soldier gets, however, a (dean pair of sheets, and never succeeds to those of another man. The same practice seems to prevail in gaols and in Metropolitan police stations. I have no information as to workhouses. In the great majority of barracks the sleeping rooms are also the eating rooms; but day looms are being tried at Dublin in the reconstructed barracks and in those provided by the conversion of the Woking prisons. At these places the additional rooms have been provided without much extra cost. The advantage of separate day rooms is recognised; but, in view of more pressing requirements, money is not likely to be available for their adoption generally. It must be remembered, however, that spacious reading rooms and recreation rooms are now provided which serve the purpose of day rooms.
COLONEL LOCKWOODWill the right hon. Gentleman give orders, in the interests of cleanliness and decency, for the issue of more clean linen? I cannot understand the comparison of soldiers with inhabitants of gaols and workhouses.
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANDoes the hon. and gallant Member impute that I thought soldiers should not be treated better than the inhabitants of gaols or workhouses?
COLONEL LOCKWOODI do not impute anything of the sort. I simply say no such comparison should be drawn.
§ * MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANSo far as I have been able to consult soldiers well acquainted with these matters, I find that they are generally disposed to think that the present arrangements are sufficient and satisfactory. It must be remembered that any material alteration in the supply of linen 367 and blankets to soldiers would cost a great deal of money. For instance, I have ascertained by a rough calculation that to provide soldiers with a pair of clean sheets fortnightly instead of monthly would involve an additional expenditure of £10,000 per annum. While I quite admit that there may be an advantage in such an alteration being made, I am not quite sure that £10,000 a year may not be better spent on other matters which would better conduce to the advantage and comfort of the soldier.
§ MR. HANBURYI have received complaints on the subject from medical officers, and, as I do not regard the right hon. Gentleman's answer as satisfactory, I beg to give notice that I shall call attention to the subject on the Army Vote.
§ * MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI should be glad if the hon. Gentleman will give me the information he has received from the medical officers, because my own information is in exactly a different direction.