ME. DUNDAS WHITE (Dumbartonshire)To ask the Secretary of State for War what is the character of the estate of about 890 acres of foreshore at Shoeburyness, recently purchased by the War Office for £5,500; whether it is part of the Maplin Sands; what is its position; whether, and, if so, to what extent, it is covered at high water; what use, if any, has been made of it by the vendors; and whether the War Office has acquired it in order to acquire the right of firing over it, or for what, if any, other purpose.
(Answered, by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) This estate is part of the Maplin Sands and lies almost three miles north-east of Shoeburyness. It is entirely covered at high water. So far as the War Department is aware, no use of this foreshore was made by the vendors, but the War Department fired over it and have acquired it for the purpose of firing over it.