§ 2. Mr. HICKSasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office the number of troops still housed in huts; what progress has been made in replacing huts by permanent buildings; and whether any men are still housed in huts which, in the opinion of the Army experts, are unsuited for habitation?
§ Mr. HACKINGApart from hutments which have been specially reconstructed, there are approximately 12,500 men who are housed in huts or hutted buildings in stations at home and overseas, excluding India. It is the policy of the War Office to replace these buildings, and more than £700,000 has been expended in the last five years in this connection; but many years must necessarily elapse before all the hutted accommodation can be replaced. I am not aware of any cases of troops living in hutted accommodation which should be condemned as unsuited for habitation.