§ MR. HERBERT LEWIS (Flint Boroughs)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost, up to the 31st March next, of the military and naval operations in West Africa, Somaliland, and Venezuela respectively.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. RITCHIE,) CroydonThe cost of the expedition to Kano has been met by Northern Nigeria funds. I do not anticipate that any additional charge will fall on the Imperial Exchequer beyond the existing grant-in-aid of &290,000 for 1902-3. The estimated expenditure for Somaliland from October 1st—on which date the War Office took over the military operations—until March 31st is &250,000. The expenditure incurred up to September 30th last was charged to the Somaliland Protectorate Fund. My hon. friend the Secretary to the Admiralty has already answered that part of the Question which refers to Venezuela.
§ SIR CHARLES DILKE inquired if there was any addditional charge for the new 3rd Battalion of the West African Rifles mentioned in the Papers on the Kano expedition.
§ MR. RITCHIEI can only answer the Question on the Paper, but I will inquire. I understand that the expedition will not involve any extra charge on the Imperial Exchequer.