HC Deb 12 September 1893 vol 17 cc946-7
MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the statement recently made by the hon. Member for the Normanton Division at a meeting of the Miners' Federation, to the effect that the coal stores at Gibraltar were cleared out, was accurate; and, if so, whether the statement applied wholly or in part to the coal stored for the use of the Royal Navy; and if he can state what is the amount of coal at present in store at Gibraltar, in the Naval and Commercial depots respectively?

THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Sir U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTH,) Lancashire, Clitheroe

The Admiralty store of coal at Gibraltar it not cleared out. On the contrary, in now contains the full stock usually maintained there. There is always a large stock in commercial stores, but it would be contrary to policy and practice to state the amount of coal at Gibraltar.