§ LORD JEFFREYSMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of the long time which the rebuilding in succession of the London barracks is likely to take, they will consider borrowing the necessary money, so as to make it possible for more than one of these barracks to be rebuilt at the same time.]
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS (THE EARL OF HOME)My Lords, there seems to be some hiatus on the Front Bench; it has taken us by surprise. I think my noble friend, Lord Onslow, meant to answer this Question. Perhaps with the noble Lord's permission we could 275 find some other time later to-day, when I can get hold of my noble friend to answer the Question.
VISCOUNT ELIBANKMy Lords, may I ask the noble Earl whether, as was courteously done by the Front Bench not long ago, the noble Lord could ask his Question at the end of the Questions on the Paper? That was done for me not long ago.
THE EARL OF HOMEYes, if that is agreeable to the noble Lord. I am sorry the spokesman for the Government is not in his place at this moment.
§ LORD JEFFREYSMy Lords, I will take another opportunity, if I may, of asking this Question. Meanwhile, I would ask whether Her Majesty's Government are aware that these barracks are among the worst in the whole Kingdom, and that Wellington Barracks in particular has been condemned for at least forty years.