§ MR. BAXTERsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty, 1220 Whether any part of the pig-iron ballast laid down or stored in the Dockyards, and sales of which were estimated to produce £100,000 during the present financial year as a Naval "extra receipt," has been sold; and, if so, how much, and at what price per ton; and how many tons are still stored or laid down in the Dockyards?
MR. CORRYreplied, that the Admiralty had been unremitting in their endeavours to realize the expectations held out last year as to the amount to be obtained from the sale of pig-iron ballast; but no offers which could be entertained had been made, except for small quantities for experimental purposes; and the sum paid into the Exchequer, in consequence of the sales, amounted to only £63. Possibly this result might be partly attributed to the depressed state of the iron trade. Perhaps the hon. Member would allow him to defer replying to the last Question till a more convenient season.