§ Sir JOHN BARRANasked the Secretary of State for War what is the total amount hitherto expended under the present or late Government on Stobs Camp, including purchase of land, road, bridges railway sidings, sheds, kitchens, tent floors, etc.; how many tenant farmers and cottagers were dispossessed at the time of purchase; what number of regular or volunteer troops have been stationed there, either temporarily or permanently, during the past three years; what, if any, are the reasons for such partial or complete non-use of the camp; and whether, in view of such expenditure and dispossession, and the waste of money involved in such non-use, he will take the necessary steps, by improvements to the camp or in other ways, to ensure that the camp shall be occupied by a suitable number of troops during the coming and future summers?
§ Mr. HALDANEThe detailed information regarding expenditure and the occupiers disturbed at the time of purchase can only be obtained by reference to the Command, and is not available at the War Office. If the hon. Member desires it, I will cause it to be rendered. The following troops were encamped at Stobs:—
Regulars. Volunteers. 1906 … … 550 10,000 1907 … … 700 3,700 Officers Training Corps. 1908 … … 700 48 About 60 Regulars are permanently quartered there in charge of the War Department property. The ground at Stobs is very suitable for training, and it is hoped that more use will be made of it by the Territorials in the future; but, it will be understood that it is necessary to give full consideration to the convenience of the members of that force in the matter of the selection of sites for training.