§ MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether supplying of coal to the Fleet at Port Said and Colombo has been taken away from English firms and been given in both instances to German firms domiciled in London?
§ MR. MACARTNEYThe contract of Port Said is now held by Messrs. Wills and Co., of Liverpool. This firm held it last year. The contract at Colombo is held by the Kraweh Coal Company, of Liverpool. The contract was made direct with them this year. They were formerly represented by Messrs. Tylor and Bright, and latterly by Messrs. Wills and Co. The contract for 1897 was held by Messrs. Tylor and Bright as agents of another Colombo firm.