VISCOUNT ENFIELDasked the Under Secretary of State for War, Whether the estimate for building the new wing at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, was provided for in the Army Estimates of 1885–86 and subsequently struck out; whether it is the case that 240 young gentlemen of 18 years and upwards are now lodged in 181 rooms; and whether the contributions of the extra cadets, amounting to about £1,600 a year, might not help to provide the interest and a sinking fund for the cost of the new building, said to be estimated at £22,000?
THE EARL OF MORLEY, in reply, said, that no such provision as that referred to in the first part of the Question had been made in the Estimates of this year; but he was bound to say that the question of providing additional accommodation had been considered before the Estimates had been framed, and in consideration of the great expenditure upon other Services it had been omitted from this year's Estimates. He was authorized to say that the Secretary of State for War was reconsidering the question of whether Estimates should not be prepared. He would like to correct one figure given by the noble Viscount. There were only 203 cadets instead of 240, and it must be remembered that of these 181 rooms 32 were especially adapted for three cadets.