HC Deb 14 December 1900 vol 88 cc828-9
MAJOR RASCH (Essex, Chelmsford)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the profits of the Military Tournament for 1900 amounted to £7,600 and were paid to the Commander-in-Chief in July; whether £2,000 of this amount was allocated for a swimming bath at Aldershot; and, if so, will he explain why this expense should not fall on the Estimates instead of on funds hitherto available for military charities.

* MR. BRODRICK

The profits amounted to £7,500. The disposal of the moneys rests entirely with the Commander-in-Chief, and Lord Wolseley considered it expedient to spend £4,000 on the soldiers' swimming bath at Aldershot.

MAJOR RASCH

Why should not this fall on the Estimates?

* MR. BRODRICK

I am not entirely cognisant of the precise amount of demand there was for the swimming bath, but I presume Lord Wolseley considered it was a purpose to which these funds were applicable.

* SIR JOHN COLOMB (Great Yarmouth)

Is Lord Wolseley or the Secretary of State responsible for this?

* MR. BRODRICK

I do not know whether the Secretary of State has any power over the Military Tournament which is not held under the statutes under which the War Office is conducted. It has been conducted by the Commander-in-Chief; the proceeds are administered by him, and applied to such purposes as he considers desirable for the Army.

MR. PAULTON (Durham, Bishop Auckland)

Has the Secretary of State authority to see that a swimming bath is provided at Aldershot?

GENERAL LAURIE (Pembroke and Haverfordwest)

In whom does the title to the swimming bath rest?

* MR. BRODRICK

I presume it rests with the Crown, like other property administered by the War Office.