HC Deb 01 November 1906 vol 163 cc1308-10
MR. BRODIE (Surrey, Reigate)

To ask the Secretary of State for War what has been the actual cost of construction and equipment of each of the forts on the Surrey hills, and how the amounts compare with the original estimates; and whether, if the forts are to be abandoned as useless for military purposes, in view of the fact that the neighbourhood is rapidly developing for building, it will be possible to retain the sites, and any adjoining land now in possession of the Government, as national property instead of selling the same.

(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The annexed statement gives the approximate figures for land and works in connection with the mobilisation centres round London. They were built by degrees out of three different sources of funds, and it is not practicable without prolonged research to trace the original estimates. But as there are no reports of excesses, the actual expenditure must have teen approximately that of the estimates. As regards the question of the retention of the sites, I would refer my hon. friend to the Answer given by me on Monday last to the hon. Member for West Bristol. †

† See Col. 671.
Statement of Expenditure on London Defences.
Station. Vote 10. Imperial Defence Loan. Military Works Loan. Total.
Land. Works. Land. Works. Land. Works. Land. Works.
£ £ £ £ £ £ £ £
Henley Grove - - - - - 436 6 — — — 6,740 436 6,716
Denbies - - - - - 1,062 55 — — 21 9,794 1,083 9,849
Merstham - - - - - 957 249 — — — 5,113 957 5,362
Farningham - - - - - 2,686 29 — — — 8,174 2,686 8,203
Pewley Hill - - - - - 3,493 10,435 — — — 26 3,493 10,461
Box Hill - - - - - 2,221 495 — — 100 5,768 2,321 6,263
Westerham - - - - - 1,626 106 — — — 8,924 1,626 9,030
Betchworth - - - - - 1,364 55 — — — 5,194 1,364 5,249
Reigate Hill - - - - - 3,031 1,114 — — 332 10,225 3,363 11,339
Fosterdown - - - - - 2,078 693 — — — 6,094 2,078 6,787
Oxted (Woldingham) - - - - - 2,408 86 — — — 5,063 2,408 5,149
Halstead - - - - - 2,731 10,733 — — 198 11,621 2,929 22,354
North Weald - - - - - 1,457 10,728 — — — 1,680 1,457 12,408
Caterham - - - - - 111 54 2,266 6,287 — — 2,377 6,341
Warley - - - - - — — — 4,220 — 38 — 4,258
Tilbury - - - - - — — — 2,275 — 19 — 2,294
Grand totals - - - 25,661 34,838 2,266 12,782 651 84,473 28,578 132,093
£60,499 £15,048 £85,124 £160,671
Sites in italics are in Surrey.