SIR JOHN HAYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether any Reports as to the quality of the steam coal supplied to the Navy have been received since January 1869, from the Commanders in Chief of the Channel Fleet or on Foreign Stations; and, if so, if he will lay them upon the Table of the House; and, if he will state whether Mr. M'Culloch still holds the office of coal buyer for the Admiralty? He did not find his name in the Navy List or in the Estimates.
§ MR. GOSCHENreplied, that reports had been received from the Commanders in Chief of the Channel Fleet and others in the Navy with respect to the quality of the steam coal furnished 1261 to the Navy, and there would be no objection to supply ample information to the House upon the subject. The Question of the hon. and gallant Admiral applied to reports extending over two years and a quarter, and he had not as yet had sufficient time to go through those reports. With regard to the second part of the hon. and gallant Gentleman's Question, he had to state that Mr. M'Culloch still bought coal for the Navy, but it was not considered that he held any permanent office in the Admiralty, and therefore his name did not appear as being on the official staff of the Admiralty.