§ Order of the Day for the Third Reading read.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 3a." —(The Earl of Morley.)
THE EARL OF LONGFORDwished to know from the noble Earl whether there was any prospect of progress being made with the erection of a new War Office for which plans were exhibited two years ago? There could be no doubt that the Army administration suffered materially from the great inconvenience arising from the fact that the business of the Department was conducted in several buildings not near to each other.
THE EARL OF MORLEYsaid, he did not see what relation there would be between his Motion and the question of the noble and gallant Earl. He however, quite admitted the importance of it; but it was one which ought to be addressed to the Commissioner of Public Works rather than to himself. He could 447 not say more than that measures had been taken for carrying into effect the proposals which had been made with regard to the erection of new offices, and he believed that a large number of designs for those offices had been sent in; but no designs had as yet been selected. He sympathized with the desire of the noble Earl that the administration of the Army should be under one roof.
§ Motion agreed to;Bill read 3a accordingly, and passed.