§ EARL WINTERTON (Sussex, Horsham)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state on what terms the fortress, defence works, and docks of Esquimault were handed over to the Government of the Dominion of Canada; whether the Dominion Government agreed to maintain the armament and defences in a proper and efficient manner; and, if so, what steps the Admiralty have taken to satisfy themselves that this is being done.
§ MR. MCKENNAIt has been found that the transfer referred to by the noble Lord can only be effected by Act of Parliament, and the terms will be embodied in a Bill which it is hoped will be presented early next session.
§ EARL WINTERTONAre we to understand that during the past two years the fortress has not been maintained by England?
§ MR. MCKENNAIt has been maintained by the Government of the Dominion of Canada. The transfer has not been made because we have been advised it can only be effected by Act of Parliament, and terms of the transfer will be embodied in the Bill.
§ EARL WINTERTONpressed for an Answer to the latter part of the Question, as to the terms on which the Dominion of Canada had taken the fortress over.
§ MR. MCKENNAThe terms will be embodied in the Bill, and the proper time for a statement will be on the introduction of the Bill.
§ SIR GILBERT PARKER (Gravesend)Is it not the case that the Government of the Dominion has spent a larger sum on these defences in the last two years than was spent in the previous ten years?
§ MR. MCKENNAI must ask for notice of that Question.