§ MR. GOURLEY (Sunderland)asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, If he will inform the House the names of all the coaling stations which are now being wholly or partially fortified, and what stock of coal the Government intend maintaining, as a minimum quantity, at each depôt at home and abroad for the use of the Fleets; whether any system has been adopted for the purpose of replenishing stations in the event of hostilities; if so, what; and, whether it is intended that stocks of coal shall be maintained during war for the use of steamers of the Mercantile Marine as well as of the Navy?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON) (Middlesex, Ealing)The hon. Member will find the information he asks for, with reference to the defence of the coaling stations, at page 11 of the Secretary of State for War's Memorandum accompanying the Army Estimates of this year. It is undesirable, in the public interest, to state either the stocks of coal which it is intended to maintain at these stations, or the system that has been adopted for replenishing them. The stocks of coal that the Admiralty keep are for their own use.