§ SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucester, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what sum was devoted, in the financial year 1897–8, to military works, naval works, barracks, and Indian military pensions, under the Indian Pensions Act, respectively, out of the £2,751,000, named by him as issued to meet capital expenditure; and what sum is estimated by him to be spent in the present financial year on each of those heads?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERThe sum of £2,751,000 named by me as issued to meet capital expenditure in 1897–8 included, for naval works, £596,000; military works, £750,000; barracks, £300,000; total, £1,646,000. The annuity payable under the Indian Army Pension Deficiency Act—£215,000—is one of the Consolidated 1557 Fund charges met out of income. The sums estimated to be required for the three capital services above, in 1898–9, may be taken to be:—Naval works, £1,750,000; military works, £850,000; barracks, £300,000. But the results of the past three years have proved that it is not possible to estimate these matters with any accuracy.