§ 2. Mr. Dribergasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the obsolete and unsuitable character of Combermere and Victoria Barracks, Windsor; how soon he expects to be able to authorise the rebuilding or substantial modernisation of these barracks; and what the approximate cost of such works would be.
§ Mr. HeadI well know the state of these barracks. Plans for rebuilding 1868 Combermere have been prepared and I hope that work will start towards the end of this year.
§ Mr. DribergAgain, is the Secretary of State aware—I am sure he is—that these barracks are really a disgrace to the Army and to the very fine regiments who are unfortunate enough to be housed in them? Can he say how long the work of rebuilding will take, because they are deteriorating rapidly and are, in fact, becoming, to use his own word, a slum?
§ Mr. HeadI lived in these barracks for some time myself, and they have deteriorated since then. I cannot give an exact undertaking about how soon the work will be completed because that depends on various things, but we are hoping to go ahead fast at the end of this year and I think that very soon they will be very much improved.
§ Mr. LeghCan my right hon. Friend say what rebuilding of these barracks was done under the previous Administration?