§ 30. Lieut.-Colonel POWNALLasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will consider discontinuing the one o'clock gun at Edinburgh Castle and thus save £365 per annum?
Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSThis question has been put under a misapprehension, for which I regret that an answer given by me on the 21st June is responsible. £1 is the approximate cost of a round of blank 18-pounder ammunition, including the brass case, which, however, can be used again. On further inquiry I am now informed that the correct daily cost is in this way reduced to about 5s. 7d., and I also find that the expenses are borne by the Edinburgh Corporation. I may add that the question of increasing the charge so as to secure a louder report is at present under consideration.
§ Lieut.-Colonel POWNALLWill my hon. and gallant Friend communicate with the Edinburgh Corporation with a view to seeing that as we have in London Big Ben, Edinburgh should have Little Benn with chimes?