§ Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether huts are being constructed for the use of troops now under canvas in Great Britain; how many such huts are in course of construction; whether they will be available for all such troops by the 1st October, or, if not, by what later date; and whether any and, if any, what military units will be provided with them at an earlier date than others?
§ Mr. TENNANTHutting for some 490,000 men, in addition to many Territorial troops, has been ordered. The numbers for the Territorial Force cannot be given yet, as it depends on the possibilities in each place of utilising available public buildings. As the work of constructing all these huts is one of enormous magnitude, it is obviously impossible to say on what date all will be ready. The first lot to be started were those at Belton Park, and these will be ready for occupation by the 25th September. Others will follow rapidly, but it is unlikely that all will be ready before the end of November. Work is decentralised as much as possible, and every care is being taken to utilise local resources.