§ 14. Lieut.-Colonel CAMPIONasked the Secretary of State for War whether it is the intention of the War Office to take 1075 over an additional 5,000 acres, the greater part of which is arable, in the neighbourhood of Seaford as a training ground for a machine gun school; if so, on what terms the land is to be taken over and whether payment of a considerable sum for compensation will be involved; whether a considerable sum of money is already being expended on existing huts; and what number of men is to be accommodated there?
§ Mr. FORSTERWith a view to effecting economy, it has been decided to remove the machine gun school from its present camp at Grantham to Seaford, so that the Grantham Camp may be disposed of, and the land returned to its owners. This will not involve the acquisition of any additional arable land at Seaford, as training will take place only on the open down land, compensation being paid for any damage done. No difficulty is anticipated in obtaining the consent of the parties concerned for the necessary manœuvring rights. There is no intention of interfering in any way with land under cultivation or required for cultivation. With regard to expenditure on the existing huts, £1,800 has been allotted to adapt these for machine gun school purposes, and there is also a charge for repair and maintenance estimated at £800. The present authorised establishment of the machine gun school is 274 officers and other ranks.