§ MR. D. A. THOMASI beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty, if, without prejudice to the public interest, he can state whether the reports that the Government has bought up all the stocks of Welsh coal at Singapore and depôts further east, is correct; and, if so, whether he can give approximately the quantities so purchased?
§ MR. MACARTNEYThe answer to the first section of the question is in the negative. Certain quantities of coal have been purchased on the station to meet the requirements of the increased fleet in Eastern waters; I am not prepared to state the amount.