§ CAPTAIN NORTONI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will communicate to the House the reports made by the officers commanding the Royal Engineers and principal medical officers at Malta and Gibraltar upon the sanitary condition of the barracks in those commands in the years 1900, 1901, 1902, and 1903, and state what steps have been taken to remedy the evils brought to notice in those reports regarding the structural defects of the buildings and the need for improved water supply for the use of the troops.
§ * MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThe reports in question are confidential. I can, 1488 however, assure the House that the proper steps are being taken to remedy the various defects. Large sums of money have been spent in the improvements of these barracks. The only serious cases of the nature referred to by the hon. Member which have been brought to notice are:—Gibraltar: Brewery Barracks reported as insanitary. These are about to be replaced. Malta: Fort Manoel reported as being in an insanitary condition. This will be evacuated as soon as a third Infantry battalion barrack can be built at Pembroke Camp. As regards the water supply only a few defects have been reported and they have been or are being remedied.