§ Mr. ORMSBY-GORE (for Mr. Lloyd)asked whether any expenditure has been incurred by His Majesty's Government since 1905 in respect of the carriage of troops or Government stores and supplies, respectively, by foreign steamers to and from the East Coast of Africa; and, if so, what has been the annual amount of that expenditure?
§ Colonel SEELYI presume that the question relates to troops and stores conveyed on behalf of the Governments of the British Protectorates in East Africa. Expenditure on such services is borne by the Protectorate Government concerned. It is the fact that troops of the Protectorate forces and stores have since 1905 been conveyed on behalf of the Protectorates by foreign steamers when it has been impracticable to make other arrangements. I regret that I am not in a position to state the annual amount of the expenditure on such services without referring to the Protectorates.