§ MR. PIKE PEASE (Darlington)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can now state the names of the Colonial stations upon which £10,000 is to be spent during 1907–8 for adapting the defences to modern requirements; what is the estimated outlay upon each of such stations; and what further expenditure will probably be required to complete the work.
I beg also to ask the Secretary of State for War what are the items composing the sum of £50,000 to be expended during the present financial year on adapting the defences of various home stations to modern requirements; and what are the particular stations involved.
§ MR. HALDANEIt would not be expedient or in the interests of imperial defence to make public the information which the hon. Member requires.
§ LORD BALCARRES (Lancashire, Chorley)asked if there was anything confidential in the amount of money spent, seeing that it was ascertainable from the Votes.
§ MR. HALDANEIt is not a question of amount, but rather one of distribution and policy with regard to which the inexpediency comes in.
§ LORD BALCARRESAre we not to be allowed to know the amount of money spent at Malta and Gibraltar?
§ MR. HALDANEI am rather surprised the noble Lord should press me after what I have said.