HL Deb 12 May 1959 vol 216 cc281-2
THE EARL OF HOME

My Lords, with the permission of the House, may I say that my two noble friends are now in a position, if your Lordships will allow them, to answer the Questions on the Order Paper. I would apologise to my two noble friends who had put down the Questions for the fact that something went wrong in the posting arrangements. I will make sure that that does not happen again.

LORD JEFFREYS

My Lords, may I again ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper may now be answered?

[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 EARL OF ONSLOW

My Lords, may I, a very junior officer, apologise to the noble Lord, a very senior officer in the Brigade, for delaying him in this way. As my noble Leader has said, there was a slight hitch in the post. The decision to rebuild Chelsea, Hyde Park and Wellington Barracks in succession was taken not for any financial reason but because Her Majesty's Household troops cannot effectively discharge their duties in London if more than one of these barracks is out of use at the same time.

LORD JEFFREYS

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether Her Majesty's Government are aware that these barracks are very bad indeed—among the worst in the world—and that the worst of all of them is Wellington Barracks, close by Buckingham Palace? May I also ask whether Her Majesty's Government cannot bring the men up for duty by train, either from Caterham or possibly Pirbright, and whether that would not hasten the rebuilding of these barracks, which is so urgently required?

THE EARL OF ONSLOW

My Lords, Her Majesty's Government are well aware of the state of these barracks, and there is no doubt that the noble Lord has put some very interesting suggestions which I will certainly convey to my right honourable friend the Minister for War.