§ Mr. NEVILLEasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the aggregate loss through fire in any other command area in any way approaches the loss in the Eastern Command for the same period; and, if not, whether he would bring the matter of these frequent fires and heavy fire losses in the Eastern Command before the Army Council for inquiry and remedy?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe fire losses in the Eastern Command during the last financial year were unusually heavy owing to one large fire. All such occurrences, whether in the Eastern Command or elsewhere are fully inquired into.
§ Mr. NEVILLEasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he has noticed the very large number of fires that have occurred in the Eastern Command area on military property, or in premises temporarily occupied by the military, including important fires at Chatham, Colchester, Woolwich, Tunbridge Wells, Hove, at camps in Surrey, Sussex, and Kent; whether he will state if the approximate value of stores, forage, vehicles, and of premises owned or occupied by the military, destroyed or damaged by fire during the past eighteen months (say to 1541W 1st May) has exceeded £100,000; and, if not, whether he will state the total number of fires reported in this area and the aggregate estimated fire loss as far as it is obtainable from the reports on the fire inquiries held and other data available at the Eastern Command headquarters and at the War Office?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe value of the losses is much below the figure suggested by the hon. Member. As I have previously stated, the smaller fires are not reported to this Office.