HC Deb 21 November 1906 vol 165 cc817-8
MR. WATT (Glasgow, College)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he has offered for sale the Piers-hill Barracks, but has, up till now, failed to find a purchaser; and whether, in the event of his finding a buyer, he will devote the money to the erection of other cavalry barracks in Scotland.

MR. HALDANE

The Piershill Barracks have not been offered for sale, but a recent valuation of the site and buildings shows that the sale could not be expected to realise a sum anywhere nearly sufficient to cover the cost of erecting new barracks.

* MR. MCCRAE

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the estimated cost of putting Piershill Barracks in a sanitary condition suitable for occupation by a regiment of cavalry.

The following Questions on the same subject were also on the Paper:—

MR. MCCRAE

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the estimated cost of erecting new barracks in Scotland, exclusive of the cost of site, for a regiment of cavalry and for a cavalry brigade respectively.

MR. MCCRAE

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can state if suitable ground is obtainable in the vicinity of Edinburgh for the erection of cavalry barracks, either for a regiment or brigade.

MR. HALDANE

I will Answer this and the two following Questions together. It is impossible to put Piershill Barracks into a sanitary condition suitable for occupation by a regiment of cavalry. It is not a question of spending money; that has been done, and the place has thereby been rendered fit for a small body, such as a brigade of artillery. It is the change of neighbourhood and surroundings which has brought about the altered condition of things. It has been estimated that the cost of erecting barracks for a cavalry regiment is between £180,000 and £200,000; and, on the assumption that a cavalry brigade would consist of three regiments with the necessary headquarters staff, this figure should be at least multiplied by three. No doubt it would be possible by spending money to obtain suitable ground in the vicinity of Edinburgh for cavalry barracks.

LORD BALCARRES (Lancashire, Chorley)

Are the barracks fit for occupation by any troops?

MR. HALDANE

Yes. The difficulty was in providing for a large number of horses.

AN HON. MEMBER

But the Financial Secretary the other day said distinctly that they were not in a sanitary condition.

MR. HALDANE

He should have explained the reason, as I have done. They are not sanitary for a cavalry regiment.