§ MR. LEAI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the inconvenience and expense caused to married soldiers of the 3rd Grenadier Guards now quartered at Windsor owing to delays in certain alterations to Victoria Barracks being carried out under the Director of Barracks Construction; and if he will say how many married families are being paid lodging allowance, and over what period it is anticipated such allowance will be granted; why the work should have been entirely stopped for fourteen weeks, and, if through the contractor's bankruptcy, why the work was not proceeded with under the usual terms of War Department contracts; and what will be the total cost to the public of lodging allowance and other expenses connected with the delay.
§ MR. HALDANETwenty-five married families are in receipt of lodging allowance. The delay in the work of remodelling the married quarters was due to the bankruptcy of the contractors in April. Steps were immediately taken under the terms of the contract for the completion of the service but further delays arose pending the settlement of certain claims put forward by the official receiver to the plant and materials on the site and to monies alleged to be due to the late contractors' estate. It is anticipated that the whole of the work will be completed by the early part of September.